Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 12:00 noon, free!

This free lunchtime talk, offered by OAS Research Associate C. Dean Wilson, represents the third presentation discussing the nature and significance of trends in the distinctive decorated pottery long-produced by Tewa potters in the Northern Rio Grande.

This presentation discusses the distinct ceramic types defined for the sequence of decorated pottery produced by Tewa potters in the Northern Rio Grande during and after the Spanish Colonial period. Different Tewa decorated pottery types have been defined based on changes in decorative styles and technology documented for black-on-cream and polychrome types produced by Tewa potters during the Spanish, Mexican and American Territorial periods. Many of the observations and illustrations of Tewa pottery included in this presentation are based on examinations of pottery not only from Tewa Pueblo Villages but also include a wide range of examples recovered during excavations at the Palace of the Governors as well as surrounding settlements associated with a variety of ethnic groups who occupied the surrounding area. Changes noted reflect both the continuation of traditional Tewa pottery forms and styles as well as changes reflecting influences resulting from trade and interaction with diverse groups who at one time or another may have been major consumers of Tewa decorated pottery.

This talk will be held in the OAS library at the Center for New Mexico Archaeology. Talks are informal. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The lecture will also be provided in an online format (Zoom) and a recording posted after the fact on both the Friends of Archaeology Facebook page and the FOA YouTube channel. Look for special announcements regarding this and other talks on the FOA Facebook page or on the New Mexico Office of Archaeological Studies' website.

The Center for New Mexico Archaeology (7 Old Cochiti Road) is located off of Caja del Rio Road, across from Challenge New Mexico on the way to the Santa Fe Municipal Golf Course. Take 599 to South Meadows Road, continue through the traffic circle west along the Frontage Road to Caja del Rio Road. CNMA is on the left-hand side of the road and is the large building with white sail-like skylights on the roof.