Prescott Black-on-gray

United States/Southwest/Central Arizona

1050-1200

Pueblo II Period, Pueblo III Period

Earlier/Alternative Names

Verde Black-on-white, Aquarius Black-on-gray, Prescott Black-on-brown, and Verde Black-on-gray.

Morphological Attributes

Bowls and large jars

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Technological Attributes

Temper: Angular quartz sand and feldspar with conspicuous amounts of mica in the core and on the surface.

Firing: Firing atmosphere apparently more controlled for reduction and consistently gray colors than for plain Prescott Gray.

Temper: Angular quartz sand and feldspar with conspicuous amounts of mica in the core and on the surface.

Surface Finish: Slightly rough to well-smoothed, not polished.

Surface Color: Very variable; vessel interiors a dark gray; exteriors may be gray, brown, or orange.

Forms: Bowls and large jars.

Vessel Thickness: 5.1 mm to 8 mm; average about 6.5 mm (bowls); 8.9 to 10.6 mm; average about 10 mm (jars).

Paint: Black, dull, sometimes thick, sometimes thin.
Pigments: Organic.
Design: Wide black lines or stripes, sometimes a definite layout, composed of nests of triangles and other motifs, usually crudely executed with unintentional splashes of paint. Black designs on inside of bowls and on the inside necks of large jars.

Firing atmosphere apparently more controlled for reduction and consistently gray colors than for plain Prescott Gray.