Salado Red was first defined by Gladwin (1936) and represents the only undecorated type within the Roosevelt Red Ware tradition. The type dates to approximately 1250–1450 CE and is primarily distributed within the Roosevelt Basin of central Arizona. It is also known by alternate names, including Salado Corrugated and Salado White-on-red, which reflect variation in surface treatment within the same ceramic tradition.

Vessels were constructed by coiling and tempered primarily with diabase-rich sand, with occasional crushed sherd. Surfaces are smoothed and coated with a red hematite wash that may appear purplish or raspberry in tone, while interiors—especially in bowls—are typically smudged black and polished. Decoration is minimal and limited to this surface treatment, distinguishing the type from other Roosevelt Red Ware forms. Vessels were fired in an oxidizing atmosphere, and variation in firing may result in fireclouding or darker exterior areas. Forms include bowls, jars, mugs, and effigies.

Information provided by American Southwest Virtual Museum:

Salado Red is the only undecorated type of Roosevelt Red Ware. This type is found primarily in the Roosevelt Basin, Arizona. (April Peters 2025 - American Southwest Virtual Museum) 

Archaeological Culture: Salado

Date Range:  A.D.1250 - 1450 

Construction: By coiling.

Firing: In an oxidizing atmosphere.

Core Color: Gray to black, tan to brick-red.

Temper: Diabase-rich sand, occasionally ground sherds.

Surface Finish: Smoothed, coils obliterated or unobliterated; bowl interiors smudged and polished; jar neck interiors smudged and polished.

Surface Color: Red (occasionally brown or black exteriors from fireclouds and over-firing).

Forms: Bowls, jars, mugs, effigies.

Decoration: No painted decoration. The "slip" is hematite wash.

Comparisons: Gila Red and Salt Red, which were made by paddle-and-anvil. Tonto Red and Tonto Corrugated are less finely made, with larger coils.

Variants:
Salado Corrugated - the same as Salado Red, except indented corrugated.
Salado

Information from Oppelt (2007):

"...is made by coiling and scraping and fired in an oxidizing atmosphere. Bowl and Jar exteriors are corrugated with the corrugations always smoothed and sometimes obliterated. The surface colour is purplish or raspberry wash. The interiors of all vessels are smudged black and bowl interiors are polished. Salado red is distributed mainly in the Roosevelt basin of Arizona. This type is illustrated by a photo of a jar. There is a variant of this type with designs in white paint." (Oppelt 2007:33)

"...Temper includes fine volcanic and alluvial sand and occasional crushed sherd. Pastes are brown to red. Vessels were produced by the coil technique and fired in an oxidation atmosphere. Pastes is brown to red. Vessel forms include bowls, narrow jars and pitchers. Exterior surfaces exhibit faint and highly obliterated corrugated impressions or distinct covered with a red slip." (Wilson, 2012)