First posted by C. Dean Wilson 2012

Pena Black-on-white was defined by Wilson and Peckham (1964). This type is assigned to trachyte tempered white wares exhibiting designs similar to those noted on early forms of Kana'a Black-on-white (Peckham and Wilson 1967; Reed and others 1998). Decorated portions of vessels are polished over a very thin and unevenly applied slip. Decorations are applied in a slight faded to dense black organic pigment. Designs are organized through series of parallel lines in a band or pendant just below the rim. Design motifs are largely represented by a series of thin multiple or straight lines. Other motifs include triangles, ticked or fringed triangles, connected triangles, barbed lines, and wavy lines. Vessel forms include bowls, jars, pitchers and gourd dippers. This type seems to be associated with assemblages dating the ninth century.

References:
Reed, Lori S., Joell Goff, and Kathy Niles Hensler
1998 Exploring Ceramic Production, Distribution, and Exchange in the Southern Chuska Valley: Analytical Results from the El Paso Natural Gas North Expansion Project, Pipeline Archaeology 1990-1993: The El Paso Natural Gas System Expansion Project, New Mexico and Arizona, Vol XI, Book 1, Report no, WCRM (F)74, Farmington.

Wilson, John P., and Stewart Peckham
1964 Chuska Valley Ceramics. Manuscript on file, Laboratory of Anthropology, Museum of New Mexico, Santa Fe.

Related Photos

Pena Black-on-white sherds

Pena Black-on-white bowl sherds