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.
[7] UCMA no. 1/4297. Pl. 6,_i_.
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.
[8] I wish to thank A. H. Schroeder. R. C. Euler, and H. S.
Colton for their constructive criticism of this description.
[Illustration: 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.
[9] Mineral identifications were kindly made by Dr. Adolf Pabst,
Department of Geological Sciences, University of California.]
_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.
PLATES
[Illustration: Plate 1. Bowls]
[Illustration: Plate 2. Bowls]
[Illustration: Plate 3. Platters]
[Illustration: Plate 4. Spoons]
[Illustration: Plate 5. Jars, pots, jugs, cups]
[Illustration: Plate 6. Bowls, platters, parchers, canteens]
[Illustration: Plate 7. Spoon backs, toys, pipes, pot rests]
[Illustration: Plate 8. Jar, cup, platter, bowls, spoons]