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Pottery has been considered a criterion for culture classification in the Southwest ever since 1915 when Kidder1 and Nelson2 applied it to chronological problems. The pot, its shape, texture, and decoration, along with a knowledge of its stratigraphic location, permit a quick recognition of the people who made it and the approximate period of its manufacture. The ware of Mesa Verde holds true to this index, and the pottery of the Cliff Dweller can be distinguished from other southwestern Pueblo ware.
The archaeologist is primarily concerned with the everyday activity of the ancients who once occupied the present ruins, and the general run of pottery sherds tell a distinct and uniform story of the ware in use. The unique or bizarre vessels that appear now and then in ruins or trash-mounds mean little, but are interesting and lead to much speculation as to their origin. A most unique group of sherds for this Mesa Verde region was found on top of the mesa last August, by Earl H. Morris and the writer. While conducting a short reconnaissance of the high ridge, lying between Pool and Navaho Canyons, in search of Basket Maker and Early Pueblo sites, we came upon a scattered mass of sherds. The unusual rim pieces attracted attention, and we decided to collect them for laboratory study. Pieces of sherds were found as much as four inches below the surface, and in trowelling through an area of about four square yards we collected over two hundred small pieces. Following the regular treatment and reconstruction a most unusual shaped vessel resulted. A sampling of the literature, dealing with this region, fails to record a like vessel. The general appearance and shape resemble one of the Navaho cooking pots, but the large size and pointed bottom mark it a stranger. As a whole it reminds one more of the ware of the Plains Indians than that of the Southwestern peoples.
No chemical analysis of the clay and tempering material has been made. The texture is very fine in comparison to Mesa Verde ware and very much harder. The external color of the pot is gray-brown, with the inside fire blackened halfway through the walls of the vessel. This blackened inside of the pot is so hard that considerable pressure must be exerted for a knife blade to scratch it. The surface finish is rough with many criss-cross indented lines, similar to the impression made by a cord malleating tool. The rim, outcurving is square and scalloped. The maker further embellished the vessel by working up a node or ridge one-forth inch below the lip. This node, one-half inch in width, has a series of thumb impressions for decoration. The jar has the bell-like shape of the currogated southwestern vessels, though higher than wide. Dimensions: Height 26-1/2 centimeters, diameter at lip 17-3/4 centimeters, at the constricted neck 15 centimeters; and at the expanded bowl it is 18-1/2 centimeters in diameter. There was no indication of ruin or mound in the vicinity where the broken pot was found. One had the impression of a group of strange Indians passing over the mesa. They stopped here to rest, the pot, part of their equipment was accidently broken, the pieces to be picked up at this time—no doubt centuries later. Who the travellers were, from whence they came and where they went, will no doubt ever remain one of the mysteries of the Mesa Verde. -oOo- | ||||||
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vol5-2g.htm
14-Oct-2011
