Roosevelt Red Ware and the organization of ceramic production in the Silver Creek Drainage

Abstract

Along the Mogollon Rim of east-central Arizona changes in the technology of ceramic production, including the appearance of Roosevelt Red Ware, have been attributed to migrating Kayenta-Tusayan populations during the late Pueblo III period. This study compares the technology and mineralogical composition of Pinto Polychrome from the Silver Creek drainage to other wares commonly found in this area and to samples of Pinto Polychrome from sites south of the Mogollon Rim. The petrographic analysis of ceramic samples and the microscopic analysis of raw sands indicate that Pinto Polychrome was locally produced in the Silver Creek drainage, is technologically distinct yet related to Showlow Black-on-red, and is closely tied to the Kayenta-Tusayan tradition of using ceramic plates. Finally, an economic model of integration is used as a framework for assessing the impact of Kayenta-Tusayan migrants in the Silver Creek drainage and their possible connection to the production of Pinto Polychrome.