Snaketown Red-on-buff is the type of Hohokam Buff Ware that transitioned between the earlier gray finishes to the buff colored pottery characteristic of later types.  Production of this type was primarily in the middle Gila River Valley and in Queen Creek, but extended south to the Tucson area, where local production also occurred (Snaketown Red-on-brown).

According to Oppelt (2007:123-124), “Snaketown Red-on-buff (AD 650-750) The designs on this type are more complex than on the preceding Sweetwater Red-on-gray. Usually the field of design is the entire surface and designs are banded, bisected or all over. Hatching is a common motif. The most common motif is a hachured interlocking scrolls with serrated elements. Incising is present, but the complicated patterns on Sweetwater Red-on-buff are absent. There was a change in the surface color and cover during the time of this type. The early examples have a gray surface without a slip. Later a slip was applied that produced a buff colored surface. The temper is crushed mica schist and quartz. The predominant forms are bowls, some with flared rims, jars, scoops, handled dippers, censers and a few Effigies.”

Archaeological Culture: Hohokam

Date Range: ca. A.D. 650-725 (Early), A.D. 725-750 (Late).

Construction: By paddle and anvil.

Firing: In a neutral to oxidizing atmosphere.

Temper: Coarse-grained mica schist and quartz; calcium carbonate inclusions.

Surface Finish: Hand smoothed and tool polished; sometimes sooted; unslipped (Early) or slipped with a buff wash (Late); usually non-porous; visible mica.

Paste Color: Dark gray to tan; surface color typically light brown, gray-brown, or gray.

Forms: Bowls predominate, some with flared rims; jars; censers; scoops; dippers; few effigies.

Decoration:

Paint: Bright red, dull red, or purplish red.
Pigments: Iron oxide mineral paint.
Design: Large hachure-filled designs, including serrated or stepped scrolls, keys, triangles pendant from the rim; thick serrated lines; paint on bowl exteriors often covers most of the surface; trailing lines. Layouts are banded, sectioned, and all-over (checkerboard).
Incising: Shallow incising parallel to the rim; often discontinuous; no complicated patterns.

Key Traits: Early: Hachure-filled designs with less than 10 percent of lines touching; thickest line less than 2.5 mm; gray paste; no slip; polished surface. Late: Slipped; hatchure-filled designs; shallow incising.

Other Names: Early: Snaketown Red-on-gray or Early Snaketown Red-on-buff; Late: Late Snaketown Red-on-buff, Snaketown Red-on-brown (locally produced in the Tucson area).

Comparisons: Earlier types lack slip and have deeper, more regular incising, less complex painted designs, and thick lines; later types generally slipped and fired under more controlled conditions. Hatchure and curvilinear designs distinguish Snaketown Red-on-buff from other contemporaneous types.

According to Oppelt (2007:123-124), “Snaketown Red-on-buff (AD 650-750) The designs on this type are more complex than on the preceding Sweetwater Red-on-gray. Usually the field of design was the entire surface and designs are banded, bisected or all over. Hatching is a common motif. The most common motif is a hachured interlocking scrolls with serrated elements. Incising is present, but the complicated patterns on Sweetwater Red-on-buff are absent. There was a change in the surface color and cover during the time of this type. The early examples have a gray surface without a slip. Later a slip was applied that produced a buff colored surface. The temper is crushed mica schist and quartz. The predominant forms are bowls, some with flared rims, jars, scoops, handled dippers, censers and a few Effigies.”