A DESCRIPTION FOR THE ARCHAEOLOGIST
PARKER RED-ON-BUFF, FORT MOHAVE VARIANT AND PARKER BUFF, FORT MOHAVE VARIANT
BY
MICHAEL J. HARNER
INTRODUCTION
The following analysis of the Mohave pottery collected by Professor Kroeber is primarily for the use of the archaeologist to aid him in identifying historic Mohave ceramics. Not represented in the collection is pottery made by the Mohave south of Parker. Some typological differences may exist between the pottery of those settlements and the pottery in Kroeber's collection, which is from Mohave Valley. In addition, the evidence seems to indicate that Mohave ceramics were undergoing changes in the late historic period. Since the historic period can be considered to extend back to the time of the first Spanish contacts, other chronologically significant "historic" Mohave pottery types or type variants may be discerned through additional research. For these reasons "Fort Mohave" is introduced here as a variant or subtype name in preference to using "Historic Mohave" which is felt to be too inclusive a term.
In referring to historic Mohave pottery, Malcolm Rogers (1945, p. 179) once used the name "Needles Red-on-Buff." However, the description of Needles Red-on-Buff by Colton (1939, pp. 12-13) and the use of that type name by Schroeder (1952, p. 32) indicate that each has in mind a type distinguishable from the pottery described in this paper. At the same time, Schroeder (1952, p. 20) clearly considers that his Parker types include historic Mohave pottery within their typological range, and I am of the same opinion. The descriptions of Parker Red-on-Buff, Parker Buff, and Parker Stucco by Schroeder (1952, pp. 19-22) agree in basic characteristics with most of the pottery described in the present paper. However, some forms which do not seem to occur prehistorically in the Lower Colorado Buff Ware, such as cups, ring bases and keels, are present in the late historic collection described here. Such new forms can be of definite use as chronological diagnostics, but it is difficult to justify setting up a new type on the basis of them alone. Consequently, the qualification "Fort Mohave variant" has been added to the Parker type names to denote this late historic pottery complex. When more detailed descriptions are available for the earlier ceramics of the Parker Series, the typological contrast may prove to be of sufficient scope to warrant classifying the Fort Mohave variants as full-fledged types. In any case, such descriptions must be made before useful comparisons can be attempted.
The description which follows does not include pottery figurines, toys, rattles, pipes, or pot rests. Also one undecorated jar[7] was not included in the study.
Techniques of description used here are almost entirely based upon Colton and Hargrave (1937), Shepard (MS), and Gifford (1953); the latter paper being also the source of the paint permanency scale.[8] Color analysis is based upon the Munsell Soil Color Chart and hardness tests upon Moh's scale. Depth and diameter measurements refer to exterior dimensions.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Rim and lip types. Interior to left; exterior to right.
Since the size of the collection leaves much to be desired, particularly as regards Parker Buff, Fort Mohave variant, the writer wishes to emphasize that the definitions of these variants are only tentative and hopes that others will not hesitate to revise them in the light of additional evidence.
PARKER RED-ON-BUFF, FORT MOHAVE VARIANT
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Synonym: None.
Variant named for: Fort Mohave Reservation.
Illustrations: This publication.
Type specimens: Mohave pottery collection at the University of California Museum of Anthropology.
Type sites: All specimens were collected ethnographically on the Fort Mohave Reservation in the vicinity of Needles, California.
Cultural association: Historic Mohave.
Time: In use and collected during the years 1902 through 1908.
Size of sample: 33 bowls; 4 jars; 7 cups; and 29 scoops.
ANALYSIS
Construction technique: Coiling.
Finishing technique: Paddle and anvil.
Firing: Fully to incompletely oxidized.
Paste:
Color.—Range: hue 2.5YR to 10R; value 6 to 7; chroma 4 to 6. Most common: 2.5YR 6/5 (between a weak reddish orange and a weak orange.)
Temper.—Size: average .4 mm. (fine); maximum 1.4 mm. (coarse); minimum microscopic. Greatest range between average and maximum observed in a single vessel is .4 to 1.3 mm. Kind: predominantly white angular and subangular particles (feldspar) together with a small amount of white rounded particles (quartz). Some mica (copper-colored) is present, but except for a few vessels is hardly noticeable.[9] No sherd temper is visible. Amount: When seen in cross section the amount of the paste surface occupied by temper particles ranges from ca. 30 per cent to ca. 50 per cent; the average being ca. 40 per cent.
Carbon streak.—None.
Texture.—Rough.
Hardness.—Where the paste is buff-colored: range of hardness is 2 to 6.5; average is 4. Where the paste is grayish: range 3.5 to 8.5; average 6.5. These hardness ratings can be in error ± .5 owing to variability in the mineral set used for testing.
Fracture.—Medium to crumbling.
Surface finish: Anvil depressions are generally discernible on interior surfaces of vessels. Surfaces are uniformly smoothed, but not polished. All vessels are unslipped (a few scoops have a sliplike surface appearance, owing to one or both of their surfaces being completely painted over; but the painting marks make it evident that these are not applications of the clay wash that characterizes a true slip.).
Surface color:
Bowls.—Exterior: range of hue 10R to 10YR; value 2 to 8; chroma 1 to 6. Most common: 5YR 6/4 (pale neutral brown). Interior: range of hue 2.5YR to 10YR; value 3 to 8; chroma 1 to 8. Most common: 2.5YR 6/7 (weak to moderate orange).
Jars.—Exterior: range of hue 10R to 10YR; value 3 to 7; chroma 1 to 8. Most common: sample insufficient. Interior: range of hue and value same as for exterior surface; chroma 1 to 6. Most common: sample insufficient.
Cups.—Exterior: range of hue 10R to 10YR; value 3 to 8; chroma 1 to 7. Most common: 2.5YR 6/6 (moderate orange pink). Interior: range of hue and chroma same as for exterior surface; value 4 to 8. Most common: 5YR 7/4 (between moderate orange-pink and weak yellowish orange).
Scoops.—(For colors of completely painted-over surfaces, consult section on "Decoration.") Exterior: range of hue 2.5YR to 7.5YR; value 2 to 8; chroma 1 to 6. Most common: 5YR 5/4 (between pale reddish brown and moderate yellowish brown). Interior: range of hue and value same as for exterior; chroma 1 to 7. Most common: 5YR 6/4 (between weak reddish orange and light yellowish brown).
Fire clouds:
Placement.—Occur on any part of the exteriors of all classes of vessels; never occur on the interiors of bowls, but sometimes on the interiors of jars, cups and scoops. Indistinct in shape.
Amount.—Every vessel has at least one fire cloud on its exterior surface. Presence of fire clouds on the interior surface is more variable. Fire clouds are extremely variable in size.
Bowls: Exterior: as many as 14 per vessel. Often cover more than one-half of the surface. Interior: no fire clouds.
Jars: Exterior: as many as 4 per vessel. Cover less than half of the surface. Interior: ranges from being entirely free of fire clouds to being completely blackened through use.
Cups: Exterior: as many as 4 per vessel, and at least 1. Interior: with the exception of 1 cup, which has 1 small fire cloud, they are lacking.
Scoops: Exterior: as many as 12 per vessel. Often cover more than one-half of the surface. Interior: not more than 1. Occur only occasionally.
Color.—Value 2 to 7, chroma 1 (light gray to near black). Hue depends upon vessel surface color.
Form:
Bowls: Straight wall (circular and oval).—
Profile form types: I (circular bowls) and II (oval bowls).
Lip and rim types: Lip type B. Rim types 1, 2, and 3. Types 1 and 2 occur on both circular and oval bowls, type 1 being the more common. Type 3 occurs on a single circular bowl.
Shoulders: None.
Base: Rounded.
Diameter range: (a) for circular bowls, 12.3 to 33.0 cm.; (b) for oval bowls, maximum length ranges from 15.4 to 26.8 cm. and maximum width from 12.0 to 21.6 cm.
Depth range: (a) for circular bowls, 6.0 to 13.4 cm.; (b) for oval bowls, 4.5 to 6.6 cm. when measured at the point of maximum length and 3.1 to 5.5 cm. when measured at the point of maximum width.
Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 4 to 9 mm.; (b) at a distance of 1 cm. below rim, 4 to 7.5 mm.; (c) at center of vessel base, 4 to 9 mm.
Additional features: None, with the exception of the largest circular straight walled bowl, which has pottery knobs. (a) Nature of feature: short oval pottery knobs apparently for the purpose of holding in place vegetal bindings which were sometimes wrapped around vessels at the lip. (b) Placement: encircle the vessel at the lip and project horizontally from it; tops of the knobs are 15 to 20 mm. below the rim. (c) Dimensions: knobs project from the vessel 9 to 12 mm. Their dimensions horizontally range from 30 to 38 mm., and vertically range from 21 to 24 mm. (d) Method of attachment: affixed to vessel before firing. (e) Number: 11.
Bowls: Recurved wall bowls.—
Profile form types: Range from type III to type IV.
Lip and rim types: Lip type A. Rim types 1 and 2, sometimes grading into types 4 and 5. Type 1 is the most common; types 4 and 5 the least.
Shoulders: Rounded.
Base: Rounded.
Mouth diameter range: 14.1 to 32.0 cm.
Depth range: 7.9 to 16.3 cm.
Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 4 to 9 mm.; (b) at point of greatest incurve, 3.5 to 8.5 mm.; (c) at vessel base, 3.5 to 10 mm.
Additional features: A minority of the recurved wall bowls have pottery knobs. (a) Nature of feature: short oval knobs or longer conical knobs (the latter on only one vessel) apparently for the purpose of holding in place vegetal bindings which were sometimes wrapped around vessels at the lip. (b) Placement: Knobs encircle the vessel at the lip and project horizontally; tops of the oval knobs are 17 to 41 mm. below the rim; tops of the conical knobs are 23 to 28 mm. below the rim. (c) Dimensions: oval knobs project 4 to 9 mm. from the vessel; range in horizontal length from from 14 to 58 mm.; range in vertical length from 8 to 22 mm. Conical knobs project from the vessel ca. 12 mm. (only one is unbroken and measurable); basal diameter is 8 mm. (d) Method of attachment: affixed to the vessel before firing. (e) Number per vessel: varies for oval knobs, 3, 4, or 6; the one vessel having conical knobs has 3.
Jars: wide mouth.—
Profile form types: V and VI (the latter type having an annular base).
Lip and rim types: Lip type A. Rim types 1 and 2.
Shoulders: Rounded.
Bases: Rounded, sometimes with the addition of an annular base.
Mouth diameter range: 12.6 to 25.1 cm.
Depth range: 19.2 to 25.4 cm.
Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 4 to 8 mm.;
(b) at point of greatest incurve, 4 to 5 mm.;
(c) at center of vessel base, 4.5 to 5.5 mm.
Additional features: One jar has an annular base, probably in imitation of such bases on chinaware. Dimensions: diameter, 10.2 cm.; thickness at rim of base ring, 6.4 to 8.0 mm. Base ring lip is type D; rim of ring is type 2.
Jar: narrow mouth (canteen).—
Profile form type: VII.
Lip and rim types: Lip type C. Rim type 6.
Shoulders: Rounded.
Base: Rounded.
Mouth diameter: 3.9 cm.
Depth: 18.2 cm.
Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 4 to 5 mm.; (b) at a distance of 1 cm. below rim, 7 mm.; (c) at center of vessel base, 6 mm.
Additional features: None.
Cups.—
Profile form types: VIII, IX, and X (the latter two types having annular bases).
Lip and rim types: Lip type A. Rim types 1 and 2, sometimes grading into 4 and 5 respectively.
Shoulders: Rounded.
Bases: Rounded, often with the addition of an annular base.
Mouth diameter range: 8.4 to 12.8 cm.
Depth range: 4.5 to 14.8 cm.
Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 4 to 7 mm.; (b) at point of greatest incurve, 3 to 6 mm.; (c) at center of vessel base, 6 to 8.5 mm. for cups without an annular base and 9 to 12 mm. for cups with an annular base.
Additional features:
Loop handles: (a) Nature of feature: single pottery loop per cup. (b) Placement: upper end of handle at rim of vessel; bottom edge of lower end of handle is from 3.6 to 7.5 cm. below rim. (c) Dimensions: range of maximum distance between inside surface of loop and exterior surface of the nearest part of vessel proper, 12.5 to 33.8 mm.; range of handle width (tangent to vessel) 11 to 30.9 mm.; range of handle thickness (perpendicular to vessel), 6 to 14.2 mm. Loop handle edges can be classified as to rim type: types 1, 2, 3, 5 occur.
Annular bases: (a) Nature of feature: a ring base is often characteristic of the cups, probably in imitation of such bases on chinaware. (b) Dimensions: diameter range, 5.8 to 7.1 cm.; thickness at ring rim, 4 to 8 mm. Lips of base ring are types D, E, F, or G. Rims of base ring are types 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
Scoops without rattle handles.—
Profile form types: XI ranging to XII and, in one case, modified to XIII; type XIV represents the scoops with modeling.
Lip and rim types: Lip type B. Rim type 1, sometimes grading into rim type 4 at the lower, circular end of the scoop.
Shoulders: None.
Base: Rounded.
Diameter range: (a) for scoops without modeling, maximum length ranges from 10.9 to 22.6 cm. and maximum width ranges from 7.1 to 16.1 cm.; (b) for modeled scoops, maximum length ranges from 13.4 cm. to 27.8 cm. and maximum width from 8.8 to 17.0 cm.
Depth range: (a) for scoops without modeling, depth ranges from 2.6 to 5.3 cm. when measured at the point of maximum length and 2.4 to 5.1 cm. when measured at the point of maximum width.
Wall thickness range: (presence or absence of modeling does not seem to correlate with any variation in wall thickness) (a) at rim, 4 to 5 mm.; (b) at a distance of 1 cm. below rim, 4.5 to 8.5 mm.; (c) at center of vessel base, 4.5 to 14 mm.
Additional features: None for the scoops without modeling, with the exception of one vessel which has a curved handle (see profile form type XIII) 42.1 mm. long. Scoops with modeling have two types of features:
"Keels": (a) Nature of feature: a keel-like ridge characterizes every scoop with modeling. (b) Placement: Along the exterior surface of the vessel, starting at the handle end and tapering in the amount of projection as it approaches the base of the scoop. (c) Dimensions: range of keel projection from surface proper of vessel, ca. 5 to ca. 15 mm. Keel lip is type G. Keel rim is type 5. (d) Method of attachment: either molded from the coils of the vessel proper or affixed before firing.
"Eyes": (a) Nature of feature: round to oval lumps of clay occurring on most of the vessels having keels, and on no others. (b) Placement: the two "eyes" are located on opposite sides of the keel at the juncture of the keel and the vessel proper on the handle of the scoop. (c) Dimensions: diameter of "eyes" ranges from 5 to 24 mm.; they project 2.7 to 8.3 mm. from the surface of the vessel. (d) Method of attachment: affixed before firing.
Scoops with rattle handles.—Differ from scoops without rattle handles as follows.
Profile form types: range from XV to XVI.
Diameter range: range of maximum length, 12.2 to 18.9 cm.; of maximum width, 6.9 to 9.2 cm.
Depth range: at the point of maximum length, 3.1 to 6.4 cm.; at the point of maximum width, 2.8 to 3.3 cm.
Wall thickness range: (a) at rim, 3.5 to 6.6 mm.; (b) at a distance of 1 cm. below the rim, 4.5 to 8.5 mm.; (c) at center of vessel base, 5.5 to 9 mm.
Additional features: All rattle-handled scoops have the "eyes" and "keel" previously described.
Rattle handle: (a) Nature of feature: a single closed compartment containing some loose, small, hard objects (probably pebbles or pottery pellets). (b) Placement: located in the handle of the scoop and with its length oriented along the length of the handle. (c) Dimensions: compartment occupies less than one-half the total length of the vessel. Its exact dimensions are uncertain, since none of the handles are broken open; probably the interior length ranges from ca. 30 to ca. 49 mm. and the interior width from ca. 32 to ca. 55 mm.
Decoration:
Paint.—(a) Color: range of hue 7.5R to 2.5YR; range of value 2 to 5; range of chroma 2 to 8. Most common color: 10R 3/3 (a dark red). (b) Material: iron, from limonite. (c) Permanency: averages the same for interiors and exteriors of vessels. Approximately 50 per cent of the tests yielded a rating of 1, with the remaining 50 per cent about equally divided among ratings 2, 3, and 4. (d) Polishing over decoration: None.
Design.—The reader is referred to the discussion of this subject by Kroeber in Part I.
COMPARISON
The reader is referred to the corresponding section for Parker Buff, Fort Mohave Variant.
RANGE
The reader is referred to the corresponding section for Parker Buff, Fort Mohave Variant.
PARKER BUFF, FORT MOHAVE VARIANT
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Synonym: None.
Variant named for: Fort Mohave Reservation.
Illustrations: 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 association: 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.
ANALYSIS
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, constituting 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.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Colton, Harold S.
1939. An Archaeological Survey of Northwestern Arizona including the Description of Fifteen New Pottery Types. Bull. 16, Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff.
Colton, Harold S., and Lyndon L. Hargrave
1937. Handbook of Northern Arizona Pottery Wares, Bull. 11, Museum of Northern Arizona. Flagstaff.
Gifford, James (ed.)
1953. A Guide to the Description of Pottery Types in the Southwest. Department of Anthropology, University of Arizona. Tucson. (Mimeo.)
Munsell Color Co., Inc.
Munsell Soil Color Chart, Hues—7.5R Thru 5Y. Baltimore.
Rogers, Malcolm J.
1936. Yuman Pottery Making. San Diego Museum Papers, No.2. San Diego.
1945. An Outline of Yuman Prehistory. Southwestern Journal of Anthropology, 1 (2):167-198. Albuquerque.
Schroeder, Albert H.
1952. A Brief Survey of the Lower Colorado River from Davis Dam to the International Border. Bureau of Reclamation Reproduction Unit, Region Three. Boulder City.
Shepard, Anna O.
MS. The Description of Pottery Color.
