Tepozan Resist Polychrome

Mexico/West Mexico/Malpaso Valley

600-800 CE

Epiclassic

Earlier/Alternative Names

Malpaso Resist 

Malpaso Negative

Morphological Attributes

olla

plate, olla, bowl, flaring rim plate/bowl

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Technological Attributes

The paste color is typically light brown (7.5YR 6/3 to 7.5YR 6/4) or pink (7.5YR 7/3) with very pale brown (10YR 7/3 to 10YR 7/4) and reddish yellow (5YR 6/3) also observed.

Forming: wall thickness ranges from 3 to 7 mm with an average of 5.30mm

Vessel forms: plate, cántaro/olla, bowl, and flaring rim plate/bowl

Decoration: The light background color ranges between a light brown (7.5YR 6/3) and a reddish brown (5YR 5/3), the carbon-based dark color is dark reddish gray (5YR 4/2) to black (7.5YR 2/0), and the red wash is red (10R 4/8) to dark red (10R 3/6). Decorative layouts and design motifs used on Tepozan are quite complex and detailed. Some specimens are divided into quartered sections. For example, one plate has a red painted cross that divides its interior into four sections. This particular specimen is reminiscent of Suchil Red-on-brown (Kelley and Kelley 1971). 

Firing cores measuring < 0.5 mm are present indicating low firing temperatures (< 700˚C). In some cases, the second firing reached temperatures nearly high enough to oxidize the carbon-based colorant, but these cases are relatively rare.