Ceramic: Mesa Verde Black-on-white, bowl, AZRU8-4999

Mesa Verde Black-on-white, bowl, Accession AZRU-00008 Catalog #4999. Morris FS 4775. Analyzed by Lori Reed 2011. Temper is sherd and granular igneous rock suggesting manufacture in the Middle San Juan region. Vessel is 60% restored with unknown adhesive. Measurements: 10 cm diameter, 10 cm height. Image AZRU8-4999 A: view of exterior showing painted design. Image AZRU8-4999 B: exterior view showing painted designs. Image AZRU8-4999 C: interior view showing painted design. Image AZRU8-4999 D: closeup of interior painted design. Image AZRU8-4999 E: view of exterior base showing basal abrasion. Recovered from Earl Morris excavation of Room 175, Aztec West Ruin. Earl Morris’ description of Room 175 at the time of excavation is as follows. “The floor of Room 175…. had been long used as evidenced by hardness and stain. About 1 foot west of the center was a nearly circular fireplace….lined with sandstones set on edge so that they reached 2 to 3 inches above the floor. Refuse…completely filled the chamber, with the exception of a surface layer….composed of material fallen from the walls of Rooms 188a and 188b. Burials Nos. 84 to 87 inclusive were in the refuse and from it came parts of eleven pottery vessels….The original north wall had fallen or been torn down to within 4 feet of its west end and finally re-built with much more carelessly laid masonry. No doorways are observable either in this room or in Room 188.” (Morris 1928:408) 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. For burials 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.