Sacaton Red-on-buff was made primarily in the middle Gila River valley, but found throughout the Hohokam region. (Meghann M. Vance 2024 - NAU American Southwest Virtual Museum). 

According to Oppelt (2007:124-125), “Sacaton is constructed by the paddle and anvil method and fired in an oxidizing atmosphere. The temper is composed of medium amounts of fine to medium quartz sand, crushed rock and calcium carbonate particles. The surfaces are smoothed and wiped. The slip varies between thick and thin. The forms of this type are bowls, jars, some very large; scoops, dippers, legged vessels, plates, heavy walled censers and effigies. Design elements are similar to Santa Cruz Red-on-buff except much larger, bolder and more poorly painted. Diagnostic elements are plaited layouts, large solids and bold line work. The designs are exuberant. Designs are primarily curvilinear with rectilinear later in the late Sacaton Phase. Life forms and negative elements are common throughout. Large solid and unpainted areas are frequent. Also common, are single or paired trailing lines on bowl exteriors. There are thin red lines on almost all of the rims and no fire clouds. The paint is fugitive red iron. Overall, Sacaton Red-on-buff has poor brush work, sloppy lines, dribbled paints and other indications of careless work. This type is distributed throughout the Hohokam area of southeastern Arizona.”

More information provided by NAU American Southwest Virtual Museum:

Sacaton Red-on-buff was made primarily in the middle Gila River valley, but found throughout the Hohokam region.

Archaeological Culture: Hohokam

Date Range: ca. A.D. 950-1150.

Construction: By paddle and anvil.

Firing: In an oxidizing atmosphere.

Temper: Course-grained mica schist and quartz; calcium carbonate inclusions.
 
Surface Finish: Muscovite mica is plainly visible on vessel surfaces; smoothed and wiped; slipped or unslipped (the appearance of slip may be the result of salt added to the clay; Weisman 1987 in Abbott 2008).

Paste Color: Surface color generally white, yellow-white, or tan; less often light brown, gray-brown, gray, or orange.

Forms: Bowls, jars, many with sharp Gila shoulders; scoops, ladles, plates, censers, effigies; cauldrons and sharp Gila-shoulders are diagnostic; semi-flare-rimmed hemispherical bowls occur only in the Late Sacaton.

Decoration:

• Paint: Bright red, dull red, or purplish red.


• Pigments: Iron oxide mineral paint.


• Design: Bold line work, plaited layouts, large solids; double-capped fringe in sectioned layouts; line-demarcated panels; crenulated lines as centerline motifs; large repeated life form or geometric elements; rectilinear scrolls; painted rim; brush work is poor. Early Sacaton Red-on-buff has organizational banding and full rim lines, large solids, and trailing lines spaced more than 3 cm apart. Middle Sacaton Red-on-buff has banded layouts, crenulated lines as centerline motifs, design element diversity, line-demarcated panels, voids with small elements, and zipper motifs. Late Sacaton Red-on-buff has wavy-edged solids, outline line and stagger, and design field separation from bowl rims.


• Incising: None.

Key Traits: Vessel form (cauldrons, vessels with sharp Gila shoulders, and semi-flare-rimmed hemispherical bowls); rim lines; outline line and stagger; design field separation from rim (bowls); line-demarcated panels.

Comparisons: Santa Cruz Red-on-buff vessel walls are thinner and lines are generally more finely executed.

Oppelt (2007:124-125): Sacaton Red-on-buff (AD 950-1100) Sacaton is constructed by the paddle and anvil method and fired in an oxidizing atmosphere. The temper is composed of medium amounts of fine to medium quartz sand, crushed rock and calcium carbonate particles. The surfaces are smoothed and wiped. The slip varies between thick and thin. The forms of this type are bowls, jars, some very large; scoops, dippers, legged vessels, plates, heavy walled censers and effigies. Design elements are similar to Santa Cruz Red-on-buff except much larger, bolder and more poorly painted. Diagnostic elements are plaited layouts, large solids and bold line work. The designs are exuberant. Designs are primarily curvilinear with rectilinear later in the late Sacaton Phase. Life forms and negative elements are common throughout. Large solid and unpainted areas are frequent. Also common, are single or paired trailing lines on bowl exteriors. There are thin red lines on almost all of the rims and no fire clouds. The paint is fugitive red iron. Overall, Sacaton Red-on-buff has poor brush work, sloppy lines, dribbled paints and other indications of careless work. This type is distributed throughout the Hohokam area of southeastern Arizona.