Ceramic: McElmo Black-on-white, mug reshaped into jar, AZRU1-812

McElmo Black-on-white, mug reshaped into small jar, Accession AZRU-00001 Catalog #812. Morris FS 5128. CULTURALLY SENSITIVE: NAGPRA ARTIFACT; ACCESS RESTRICTED. Analyzed by Lori Reed 2011. Reshaped jar is 100% complete, but original mug form is missing the handle. As shown in images, it appears that the mug handle was broken prior to firing of the vessel. The handle stubs were ground down and the design was painted over the handle stubs. Based on the irregular shape of the mug, simplicity and sloppiness of design, and failure of the original handle attachment, the potter may have been inexperienced. Measurements: 6.5 cm orifice diameter, 13.8 cm height. Sherd and granular igneous temper indicates local production at Aztec. Image AZRU1-812 A: exterior view showing painted design. Image AZRU1-812 B: exterior view showing painted design. Image AZRU1-812 C: exterior view showing design painted over handle stub. Image AZRU1-812 D: exterior view showing handle stub. Image AZRU1-812 E: view of orifice. Recovered from Earl Morris excavation of Room 185, Burial 127, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 185 at the time of excavation is as follows. “…. two feet of a very hard and compact light colored earth on a floor level that showed practically no signs of use. A refuse layer was above this and the first storey roof remains above that. The only doorway was a T-shaped door in the east wall.” (Morris 1928:409) Reference: Earl Morris, 1928, Notes on Excavations in the Aztec Ruin, Volume XXVI, Part V, Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History, New York. Also see: Earl Morris, 1924, Burials in the Aztec Ruin and the Aztec Ruin Annex, Anthropological Papers of the American Museum of Natural History Vol. XXVI, Parts III and IV, American Museum of Natural History, New York.