First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2012

White Mound Black-on-white was first noted by Haury (1936) in his descriptions of Mogollon types. Gladwin (1945) later included a description of White Mound Black-on-white with descriptions of Cibola tradition types. Pottery assigned to this type appears to have been produced from about A.D. 700 to 850. It is similar to San Marcial Black-on-white produced in Middle Grande region, Piedra Black-on-white of the Mesa Verde tradition, and Pena and Crozier Black-on-white of the Chuska tradition.

Surfaces of most examples assigned to White Mound Black-on-white are not slipped and usually only slightly polished. Pastes tend to be light gray and are tempered with sand. Pastes are usually white to light gray. Temper usually consists of sand. Rims are solidly painted. Designs are executed in red, brown, to black with mineral pigments. Design elements include thin to medium parallel or perpendicular lines or chevrons which are often unembellished but may be ticked and arranged in a simple band just below the rim (Hays-Gilpin and van Hartesveldt 1998; Windes and McKenna 1989). Designs are often made of narrow lines usually without elaboration although some may have connected ticks or flags. Both connecting triangles and chevron lines may form a simple band around the vessel. The banded designs usually contain solid. The incorporation and mixture of solidly painted triangles and parallel and intersecting lines often produces an effect similar to that noted on later types such as Red Mesa Black-on-white although decorated surfaces exhibit less polish and designs are often less elaborately organized, A notable but rare design element reported for this type consist of simple solidly painted human figures that are joined together forming a band around the vessel

References:
Gladwin, Harold S.
1945 The Chaco Branch: Excavation at White Mound and in the Red Mesa Valley. Medallion Papers 33, a Pueblo, Globe, Arizona.

Haury, Emil W.
1936 Some Southwestern Pottery Types. Medallion Papers No. 19, Gila Pueblo, Globe, Arizona

Hays-Gilpin, Kelley., and Eric van Hartesveldt
1998 Prehistoric Ceramics of the Puerco Valley: The 1995 Chambers-Sanders Trust Lands Ceramic Conference. Museum of Northern Arizona Ceramic Series No.7. Thue Museum of Nothern Arizona, Flagstaff.

Windes, Thomas C., and Peter J. McKenna
1989 Cibola White Ware and Cibola Grayware: The Chaco Series. Paper presented for the New Mexico Archaeological Council Ceramics Workshop, Northwestern New Mexico Region, Ms. On file, National Park Service, Santa Fe.

Related Photos

White Mound Black-on-white bowl sherds

White Mound Black-on-white bowl

White Mound Black-on-white bowl

White Mound Black-on-white bowl sherd

White Mound Black-on-white bowl sherd

White Mound Black-on-white bowl