Hohokam Plate Pottery

ca. 1000 AD

2.375" H x 8.875" D

Hand Made in Grey Clay and Painted Red and Black Geometric Patterns with Fire Clouds

In Good Condition;  and has been Restored Back Together and paint touched up

The Hohokam were a prehistoric Native American culture that thrived in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona from approximately 1–1450 CE, known for their advanced irrigation systems, ball courts, and distinctive ceramics. Pottery was a cornerstone of Hohokam daily life, used for cooking, storage, serving food, and ceremonial purposes. It was primarily produced by women, with evidence suggesting specialized production areas near villages. The culture's ceramics are renowned for their buff or brown wares, often decorated with red pigment derived from hematite mined from nearby mountains like the Tucson Mountains.

Hohokam pottery was crafted using local clays mixed with tempering materials (such as sand from washes) to prevent cracking during firing. Vessels were formed by coiling clay, thinning it with a paddle-and-anvil technique, and smoothing surfaces with polishing stones. Firing occurred in open-ground pyres using wood fuel, rather than enclosed kilns. Designs were applied as slips (liquid clay coatings) or paints before firing, creating durable, functional art.