The Hopi Indians made Medicine black-on-red ware in the Medicine Valley region near Flagstaff, Arizona, between the years A.D. 1075-1125.

To make this type of ware the Hopi Indians gathered a unique type of clay that required little or no tempering. If a temper was added it was made of the same clay the ware was to be made from. The Hopi ware of this time period did not have a colored slip, instead the surface was polished until it was smooth and then it was painted and fired. The decorations on Medicine black-on-red ware were painted with black manganese and had contrasting thick and thin lines with solid figures.

Medicine black-on-red ware is classified, along with eighteen other types of ware, under Tsegi Orange Ware. This type of ware was made along the Colorado River near the connection with the San Juan River down to the spot were the San Juan River joined with the Little Colorado River.

References:

Brody, J. J. Beauty from the Earth: Pueblo Indian Pottery from the University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The University Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.

Dittert, Jr., Alfred E., and Plog, Fred. Generations In Clay. Flagstaff, Arizona: Northland Publishing, 1980.

Hayes-Gilpin, Dr. Kelley. Email correspondence. 31 January 2000-2 February 2000.

Written by: Angela Anderson