First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2012

Mogollon Red-on-brown was defined by Haury (1936). This type represents one the earliest painted type produced in the Mogollon region (Haury 1936; Wilson 1999). Mogollon Red-on-brown was probably first produced sometime around A.D. 700 and may have been produced until A.D. 900.

Vessel surfaces are well smoothed and highly polished. Mogollon Red-on-brown exhibit pastes and surfaces similar to but is distinguished from Mogollon brown ware types by the additional presence of a red design executed in either high-iron slip or hematite pigments. It is likely that this type developed out of San Francisco Red, in which similar red slips or pigments were applied over the entire vessel surface. Except for the red designs, surfaces are often not slipped and when slip is present consists of light brown to light red clay. The red pigment applied as a decoration is often polished, creating a blurred effect. Rims are often solidly painted.

Painted motifs usually consisted of relatively broad straight lines and single or connected triangles arranged together in simple patterns, producing a saw tooth design. Designs were often organized into four wedge-shaped sections. Each quarter was commonly organized around a single or group of solid triangles suspended by a single line and surrounded by a series of parallel curvilinear or chevron lines. These designs are simple and repetitive compared to later painted decorations. Designs and lines are sparsely spaced although motifs often covered the entire interior of the vessel. Mogollon Red-on-brown is primarily represented by bowls, although jars are present in very low frequencies. Bowls are most commonly represented by bowls although a range of jar forms may be represented.

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

Wilson, C. Dean
1999 Ceramic Types and Attributes. In Archaeology of the Mogollon Highlands Settlement Systems and Adaptations; Volume 4. Ceramics, Miscellaneous Artifacts, Bioarchaeology. Bone Tools and Faunal Analysis, edited by Y.R Oakes and D.A. Zamora, pp 5-86. Office of Archaeological Studies Archaeology Notes 232, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe.

Related Photos

Mogollon Red-on-brown bowl sherds

Mogollon Red-on-brown sherds

Mogollon Red-on-brown jar

Mogollon Red-on-brown bowl

Mogollon Red-on-brown bowl

Mogollon Red-on-brown bowl

Mogollon Red-on-brown bowl

Mogollon Red-on-brown bowl