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How to Identify Ancient Texas Indian Pottery Markings

It is believed that Native Americans began making pottery in what is now the continental United States sometime between 25,000 B.C. and 8,000 B.C. Pottery was initially created as utensils and for carrying and storing items and soon began to develop distinctive shapes and styles. Pottery was also used for ceremonial and tribal purposes. In the area that is now known as the state of Texas, some Indian cultures included the Apache, Kiowa, Caddo and Comanche tribes.

Instructions

- 1
  Identify cordmarked pottery, which was indicative of Indians who lived along the Canadian River in the Texas Panhandle. Cordmarked pottery has parallel indentations on the outside surface, which was created by the use of a paddle wrapped with a cord. This method is typically found in cooking pots or jars.
- 2
  Look for pottery that would have been used for cooking by their large, sturdy appearance. Many vessels are red in appearance due to the local clay content and have large gray areas on the pottery due to the firing process used when creating the vessel. Most cooking pots created by ancient Indians in the Texas region are round in shape with a small mouth and a smooth exterior.
- 3
  Identify pottery made of clay mixed with what is called "grog," or shattered pottery shards or even bone. These pottery items are particularly identified with the Caddo tribe and most pottery items have long necks and vessels that angle sharply from the bottom.
- 4
  Look for pottery with roughened exterior that was created with minerals local to the Llano Uplift area of Texas. These local items often have incision lines on the vessel exterior. Some pottery items may also have a handle that appears similar to a stirrup.
- 5
  Identify pottery with lines filled with a white pigment, bands around the vessel neck and elaborate engravings, all of which are indicative of Caddo Indians in the Texas region.

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