Ware Name: Pecos White White Ware

First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2014

While an extremely wide range of white ware recovered during excavations at Pecos Pueblo were described (Kidder and Amsden 1931), almost all of these were assumed to have been produced in adjacent regions. The long sequence of white wares described during excavations at Pecos Pueblo by Kidder still form the basis of the definition of many of the types in this area (Amsden 1931). Much of the pottery appears to reflect trade wares produced in areas to the west particularly Northern Rio Grande or Northern Tewa tradition types known to have originated in areas such as the Tewa Basin, Pajarito Plateau, and Chama Valley. It is interesting to note, however, that descriptions of the large numbers of white ware pottery sherds and vessels recovered during investigations of Pecos Pueblo still form much basis for the distinction and definition of these types. These include detailed description characterized as the "Blue-gray type" (which was subsequently assigned to Santa Fe Black-on-white, the "Biscuitoid type" (redefined as Wiyo Black-on-white), "Biscuit A" (Abiquiu Black-on-gray/white) and "Biscuit B" (Bandelier Black-on-white/gray). Descriptions of pottery assigned to these types are included in this document in discussions of Northern Rio Grande white ware types which include illustrations of sherds recovered from sites in Pecos National Park, Other forms such as pottery described as Rowe Black-on-white and some of the pottery described as Galisteo Black-on-white may have been produced locally. Pottery assigned to Galisteo Black-on-white may reflect a mixture of locally produced forms and those derived from the Galisteo Basin. Rowe Black-on-white, one of many distinct regional types produced during the Late Coalition period that is sometimes identified in sites in the Pecos Valley (Cordell 1998; Habicht-Mauche 1993). The distinct characteristics of this type and its rarity in assemblages from sites in other regions indicate it was probably produced in the Pecos Valley.

Related Types

• Rowe Black-on-white