Mohave Pottery

Chapter 11

=Ill.u.s.trations=: This publication.

=Type specimens=: Mohave pottery collection at the University of California Museum of Anthropology; specifically, specimens 1/13788, 1/13789, 1/13790, and 1/15707.

=Type sites=: Same as for Parker Red-on-Buff, Fort Mohave variant.

=Cultural a.s.sociation=: Same as for Parker Red-on-Buff, Fort Mohave variant.

=Time=: Same as for Parker Red-on-Buff, Fort Mohave variant.

=Size of sample=: 2 bowls; 2 parchers.

a.n.a.lYSIS

=Construction technique and finishing technique=: The same as for Parker Red-on-Buff, Fort Mohave variant; firing and paste characteristics are likewise within the range described for that type.

=Surface finish=: Anvil depressions are generally discernible on interior surfaces of vessels. All vessels are unslipped. Interior surfaces of all vessels and the exterior of one parcher and part of the exterior of the other are smooth, but not polished. The exterior surfaces of the bowls and part of the exterior of one of the parchers have an extremely rough, granular surface, called "stucco."

=Surface color=: Exterior surfaces of bowls are covered with the soot from cooking fires. Interior surfaces of parchers and one bowl are likewise uniformly blackened through use. Otherwise the surface color is visible and within the range described for Parker Red-on-Buff, Fort Mohave variant.

=Fire clouds=: These are partially visible on the exteriors of the parchers and may be present on the exterior and interior surfaces elsewhere. However, the considerable smoke-blackening prevents adequate observation of them (removal of a portion of the soot on the exterior of one bowl revealed one such cloud).

=Form=:

_Bowls._--

Profile form type: IV.

Lip and rim types: Lip type A. Rim types 1 and 2, sometimes grading into types 4 and 5 respectively.

Shoulders: Rounded.

Base: Rounded.

Mouth diameter range: 18.5 to 25 cm.

Depth range: 13.4 to 19.8 cm.

Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 5 to 9 mm.; (b) at point of greatest incurve, 3.5 to 5 mm.; (c) at center of vessel base, 6 to 8 mm.

_Parchers._--These are boatlike, double-pointed shapes.

Profile form types: XVII and XVIII.

Lip and rim types: Lip type B. Rim types 1 and 2.

Shoulders: None.

Base: Rounded.

Diameter range: range in maximum length is 34 to 38.1 cm.; range in maximum width is 23.9 to 26.6 cm.

Depth range: at point of maximum length, 13.7 to 13.9 cm.; at point of maximum width, 8.6 to 8.8 cm.

Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 7 to 9 mm.; (b) at a distance of 1 cm. below the rim, 5 to 6.5 mm.; (c) at center of vessel base, 5.5 to 7.5 mm.

Additional features: On one of the bowls and on both of the parching trays the topmost coil, const.i.tuting the rim and upper part of the lip, is not completely flattened, resulting in what is sometimes called a "folded rim." This makes the rim and the lip thicker in cross section.

This "folded rim" is characterized by a treatment of parallel, angular (fingernail?) indentations both on the interior and exterior surfaces.

The distance from the rim to the bottom edge of the fold ranges from 2.4 to 7 mm.

=Painted decoration=: None.

COMPARISON

Differs from Parker Red-on-Buff, Fort Mohave variant, in not having painted decoration; and in having a "stucco" surface and/or an indented "folded rim." The parcher is a form which does not occur among the painted vessels (i.e., as Parker Red-on-Buff, Fort Mohave variant) in the collection.

RANGE

Incompletely determined. At least from the northern end of Mohave Valley south along the Colorado River to the valley below Parker.

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