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Maverick Mountain Polychrome Jar

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Maverick Mountain Polychrome Jar Read More »

Ramos Poly Human Effigy Jar

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Ramos Poly Human Effigy Jar Read More »

Mesa Verde Rattle-Bottom Mug

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Mesa Verde Rattle-Bottom Mug Read More »

Chaco Cacao Cylinder

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Chaco Cacao Cylinder Read More »

Coiled Polychrome Teapot

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Coiled Polychrome Teapot Read More »

Dragoon Red/Brown Shoulder Jar

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Dragoon Red/Brown Shoulder Jar Read More »

Cliff Polychrome Bowl

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Cliff Polychrome Bowl Read More »

Cibola White Ware Pitcher

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Cibola White Ware Pitcher Read More »

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This book tells of my journey to learn ancient pottery making and what I discovered along the way.

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Firing (8)
Handbuilding (14)
In-Person Pottery Workshops (1)
Materials (11)
Replicating (17)
The Lost Pueblo of Chichilticalli (6)
Traditional Southwest Pottery (1)

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Books & Merch (4)
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Masterclasses

Wild Clay 101
Coil Pottery Making 101
Natural Pottery Paints, Slips & Pigments
Outdoor Pottery Firing 101

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Volcanic Ash Temper $10.00
Red Ware Vase $50.00
Stirrup Pot $75.00

7 years ago this week I was traveling to meet diff

7 years ago this week I was traveling to meet different potters in the four corners country. I was trying to get my new YouTube channel going by making a video about the pottery legend Clint Swink so I traveled to Durango, Colorado to film and interview him. The video only did marginally well because I was still not such a great film maker, but that's how you learn. On the way home I went by Hopi and visited another potter fired, Bobby Silas. We went out collecting clay and looked at some old Hopi ruins. It's hard to believe that my YouTube channel is now over 7 years old. My 7 year old video about Clint Swink is still up there for you to enjoy.

Want to learn more about primitive pottery? I stil

Want to learn more about primitive pottery? I still have a couple of spaces available in my fall pottery workshop, October 23 - 27. So check out my website AncientPottery.how if you are interested. This is a 5 day intensive workshop covering the whole process from digging clay through outdoor firing so it's a great way to learn by doing. #potteryworkshop #primitivepottery

Look at the similarity of the designs on these two

Look at the similarity of the designs on these two pots, these pots don't have much in common. The white one was made in the 1100s in Northern Arizona, was painted with organic paint and fired in a smothered reduction firing. The red one was made in the 1300s in Southern Arizona, was painted with mineral paint and was fired in an oxidizing surface firing. So what is the connection? Want to take a guess before you read the answer?

The southern red ware pot was made by immigrants who moved from Northern Arizona (near where the white ware pot was made) to Southern Arizona in the late 1200s bringing there unique ideas and designs with them.

#ancientpottery #arizonapottery

Some of the beautiful pottery seen at Wupatki Nati

Some of the beautiful pottery seen at Wupatki National Monument. #indianpottery #nativepottery #anasazipottery

Wupatki National Monument this afternoon. Perfect

Wupatki National Monument this afternoon. Perfect weather for exploring ancient ruins. #wupatki #ancientarizona

Finding "wild" clay in nature might seem intimidat

Finding "wild" clay in nature might seem intimidating at first but that's only because you have not learned what to look for yet. Once you learn the telltale signs of clay you will start to see it everywhere you go.

* Crackled, dry-earth texture
* Sharp, angular chunks
* That signature soapy/waxy feel
* Rich, saturated colors

Spring is here and it's a great time to get outdoors and find some wild clay. Have you found any new clays yet this year?

#wildclay #clayhunting

One of the rarest pottery types of the ancient Sou

One of the rarest pottery types of the ancient Southwest, Cliff White on Red. The information I could find gave the dates of 1390 - 1450 but that seems awfully optimistic. I have never seen a conclusive date in this area past about 1400 so in all likelihood this stuff was made for maybe 10 or 12 years until the last person left the Gila Valley and shut the lights off on their way out the door. The examples show here have been somewhat restored so the white paint looks way better than it would otherwise.

A seed jar is a traditional storage vessel used in

A seed jar is a traditional storage vessel used in Southwestern Native American pottery traditions to hold seeds for the next planting season.

These jars stored precious agricultural seeds safely over the winter. The small opening at the top protected the contents from rodents, insects, moisture, and contamination.

Here are a few seed jars from museums across the Southwest, which is your favorite?

Last week I looked into the possibility of making

Last week I looked into the possibility of making primitive pottery in a big city like Los Angeles. I talked with a few people who make primitive pottery out there, collected clay in the hills and even fired a pot on the beach. My latest YouTube video shows what I learned about making primitive pottery in a big city (link is in my bio)

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