The Sosi Black-on-White is a type of pottery found in the southwest United States in or near Arizona. The Pueblo were corn farmers who lived in multi-roomed pueblo dwellings. During the Pueblo I through Pueblo II, the pottery was black painted designs on white slip. This was then followed in the Pueblo II era by Dogoszhi and Sosi from 1070 to 1180.

The primary components of the Sosi Black on White Ware were barium and iron. The ware, usually made into a bowl, a jar, or a ladle, was solid white with beautiful black designs in and/or around the piece. The black designs were usually thick lines withh opposed barbs and/or inter locking rectilinear elements on bowls and ladles. The design used on jars was basically the same except the decoration on the neck of the jar was far simpler than the design used on the body. These pieces of pottery would have been used by the Sosi as devices for holding or scooping food and water.

References:

Foust et al., Trace Element Analysis of Pueblo II Kayenta Anasazi Sherds, Archaeological chemistry IV, pp.125-143, 1989. http://helios.unive.it/~termo/DataBank/America/USA/Arizona/klethlav.htm(3/6/2001)

Logan Museum, “Sosi Black on White.” Beloit College, http://www.beloit.edu/~museum/logan/southwest/anasazi/sosi/sosibw.htm(3/5/2001)

 The Official Hopi Cultural Preservation Office (HCPO), “The History of Hopi Pottery.” Northern Arizona University, http://www.nau.edu/~hcpo-p/arts/pot3.htm(3/6/2001)

Written By: Greg Anderson