Ancestral Pueblo: Greater Upper Rio Grande ValleySouthern Rio GrandeMiddle Rio GrandeMiddle-Southern Rio Grande Glaze WareSan Clemente Glaze Polychrome

Type Name: San Clemente Glaze Polychrome

Period: 1325 A.D. - 1425 A.D.
Culture: Ancestral Pueblo: Greater Upper Rio Grande Valley
Branch: Southern Rio Grande
Tradition: Middle Rio Grande
Ware: Middle-Southern Rio Grande Glaze Ware


First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2013

San Clemente Glaze-polychrome was defined by Mera (1933). This type reflects the early use of combinations of red and white slips to achieve a polychrome effect (Mera 1933). San Clemente is generally considered part of the Glaze A Red pottery tradition because of the continuity in temper preferences and the stylistic similarities between San Clemente and Agua Fria Glaze-on-red (Warren 1979). A date range of A. D. 1325-1425 is estimated for thus type (Warren 1979).

The classification of this type as a polychrome derives from the use of different slips on opposing sides of the bowl, in contrast with the polychrome variety of Cieneguilla Black-on-yellow and many other later glaze ware types which reflect the use of decorations of red slip between black glaze paint. Most commonly San Clemente Glaze Polychrome includes the use of a white slip on the bowl interior and a red slip on the exterior, although this pattern is sometimes reversed. Based on analysis of ceramics from Pottery Mound, Franklin (2007) notes five variations of slips across different surfaces. These include (1) Chalky white slip interior, red slip exterior (2) Creamy white slip interior, red slip exterior (3) Chalky white slip exterior, red slip interior (4) Creamy white slip exterior, red slip interior and (5) White slip on both surfaces. The contrast between the light creamy and chalky slip is quite noticeable. Chalky white slips appear to be more common on the exterior as compared to the interior surfaces. The light slip is applied as a band covering the entire decorated surface. Glaze tends to be well executed and black to dark brown in color. Designs and layouts are similar to that noted on Aqua Fria Glaze-on-red and Cieneguilla Glaze on-yellow. Rim forms span the range of Glaze A straight walls with rounded lips to Glaze B and C rims and may reflect a relative long span of production of forms assigned to this type. Rim ticking is particularly common on forms that are thickened or flared.

References:
Franklin, Hayward H.
2007 The Pottery of Pottery Mound. A Study of the 1979 UNM Field School Collection, Part 1: Typology and Chronology. Maxwell Museum Technical Series No. 5. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.

Mera, H. P.
1933 A Proposed Revision of the Rio Grande Glaze Paint Sequence. Laboratory of Anthropology Technical Series Bulletin No. 5. Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Warren, A. Helene

1976 The Ceramics and Mineral Resources of LA 70 and the Cochiti Area. In Archeological Excavations at Pueblo del Encierro, LA 70, Cochiti Dam Salvage Project, Cochiti, New Mexico, assembled and edited by D. H. Snow, pp. B1– B70. Laboratory of Anthropology Notes, 78b. Office of Archaeological Studies, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe.

1979 The Glaze Wares of the Upper Middle Rio Grande. In Archaeological Investigations in Cochiti Reservoir, New Mexico, Vol. 4: Adaptive Changes in the Northern Rio Grande Valley, edited by J. V. Biella and R. C. Chapman, pp. 187–216. Office of Contract Archaeology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.




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San Clemente Polychrome bowl

San Clemente Glaze Polychrome jar

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherds (interior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherds (exterior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherds (interior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherds (exterior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherd (interior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherd (exterior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherd (interior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherd (exterior surface)

San Clemente Polychrome bowl sherd (interior surface)