In the Southwestern United States, Salado polychrome ware was the most abundant decorated ware from 1275-1450 AD. Polychrome is a decorative style, which utilizes at least three colors on the same piece of ceramic. Salado polychrome ceramics can be distinguished by their black and red markings on a white background.

When populations started moving south from the Colorado Plateau area, they brought together many different traditions and cultures together in one region. The Anasazi, Mogollon, and Hohokam traditions were some of the diverse ways of life that were brought together at that time. The populations moved south into the Tonto Basin area of central Arizona. This area in Arizona is called the "Heartland" of the Salado way of making pottery.

The Salado pottery technique was used on vessels such as ollas, jars, bowls, and ladles. The material used for the vessel is pure clay called kaolin. When fired, kaolin turns a white color because the clay is free of iron. The surface of the pottery is usually rough and course. The exterior decorations are geometric designs made up of parallel lines and circular arcs. The paints used were either black or red. The black paint is made from carbon and minerals. The carbon can be found in different plants, which are boiled down into a "gummy" substance. The red paint is made from a hematite rich clay called a slip.

"The direction of influence on Salado Polychrome is primarily from the north and northwest rather than from the northeast and east," as said by Areleyn W. Simon. Tusayan and Colorado White polychrome have the most in common with Salado ware. The choice of paint, application, and firing make Salado polychrome ware a distinctive piece of American history.

References:

"Pottery and Pigments in Arizona" Arleyn W. Simon (2 April 2000) http://archaeology.la.asu.edu/vm/southwest/salado/index.htm 2 April 2000

"El Paso Polychrome Pottery" Handbook of Texas (2 April 2000) http://www.tsha.utexas.edu 2. April 2000

"Pueblo Pottery" The Internet Public Library (2 April 2000) http://www.ipl.org 2 April 2000.

Written by: Eric Holland