Book Description

The list of pottery types and descriptions which follows is a partial compilation of the prehistoric and protohistoric aboriginal ceramics found on the Tonto National Forest in central Arizona. It is an attempt to provide a description of an important aspect of Tonto archaeology which lies somewhere between a "popular" or non-technical account and an abstract and specialized technical manual. It presents a typology of Tonto pottery based on its manufacturing technology and physical attributes, but it does not constitute a study of typology or ceramic technology. It presents a number of pottery type descriptions, but it cannot be considered an identification in the traditional sense. Nor is it a bibliography of ceramic literary references for the Forest, despite the inclusion of a list of useful references. It is intended primarily as an introduction to the study of central Arizona pottery and as a tool for making "quick and dirty" type identifications, especially in the field.