hohokamgilaplain

TYPE: Gila Plain

DATE: AD 150 to 1450+ (Wallace 2003:22,169)

See Article: Gila Plain and Gila Red, Older Than We Think?

COMMON FORMS: Since Gila Plain was made from the Early Ceramic Period through the Classic Period, it can be found in just about all common Hohokam ceramic forms.

COMMON COLORS: Usually tan to brown, often reddish to orange or black, often with lots of mica showing through. Interiors of bowls often can be smudged black.

MICACEOUS TEMPER: Often heavy. Can be large mica-schist flakes, or finely crushed mica flakes. In some areas (including the Tucson area) Gila Plain was often made with very little or a very small amount of mica.

COMMENTS: It would seem logical to name Gila Plainwares according to the phase names to which they were found, however it often cannot be done because it is practically impossible to date Gila Plain sherds to specific phases. Forms often are not a reliable way to date Gila Plain, for example, Gila Plain is rarely seen with a sharp Gila Shoulder as found on the decorated jars of the Sedentary Period. Also, many Gila Plain jars found in the Colonial Period have tall straight necks, a feature found on Gila Plain jars of the Classic Period. Redware tall neck jars are also found in the Pioneer Period, as well as the Classic Period. Jars with round bottoms and short necks are also found in most phases. It is also relatively rare in flare-rim bowl forms. The only way to accurately date some of the Gila Plain to phases are by certain specific forms, (such as the classic or gila shoulder) or if they were found in direct association with other dateable (painted) ceramics.

VARIETIES:

Smudged Interiors

Non-smudged Interiors

PHOENIX BASIN GILA PLAIN

Red Mountain

TUCSON BASIN GILA PLAIN

Agua Caliente

1Y Gila Plain Bowl (Smudged Variety) with large slate/schist temper particles.

Approximate Dimensions: 9 1/8" by 5 1/4"

2N Gila Plain Micaceous Bowl

Approximate Dimensions: 4 1/8" by 1 1/2"

3Y Gila Plain Scoop

Approximate Dimensions: 5 3/8" by 3 7/8" by 3 1/8"

This page last revised: 07/02/2011

We welcome your linking to our site, however all documents, webpages, photographs and images are the property of www.rarepottery.info. Written permission is required to copy, download or use any text, photographs or image files. Contact: rarepotteryinfo@aol.com

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	TYPE: Gila Plain DATE: AD 150 to 1450+ (Wallace 2003:22,169) See Article: Gila Plain and Gila Red, Older Than We Think? COMMON FORMS: Since Gila Plain was made from the Early Ceramic Period through the Classic Period, it can be found in just about all common Hohokam ceramic forms. COMMON COLORS: Usually tan to brown, often reddish to orange or black, often with lots of mica showing through. Interiors of bowls often can be smudged black. MICACEOUS TEMPER: Often heavy. Can be large mica-schist flakes, or finely crushed mica flakes. In some areas (including the Tucson area) Gila Plain was often made with very little or a very small amount of mica. COMMENTS: It would seem logical to name Gila Plainwares according to the phase names to which they were found, however it often cannot be done because it is practically impossible to date Gila Plain sherds to specific phases. Forms often are not a reliable way to date Gila Plain, for example, Gila Plain is rarely seen with a sharp Gila Shoulder as found on the decorated jars of the Sedentary Period. Also, many Gila Plain jars found in the Colonial Period have tall straight necks, a feature found on Gila Plain jars of the Classic Period. Redware tall neck jars are also found in the Pioneer Period, as well as the Classic Period. Jars with round bottoms and short necks are also found in most phases. It is also relatively rare in flare-rim bowl forms. The only way to accurately date some of the Gila Plain to phases are by certain specific forms, (such as the classic or gila shoulder) or if they were found in direct association with other dateable (painted) ceramics. VARIETIES: Smudged Interiors Non-smudged Interiors PHOENIX BASIN GILA PLAIN Red Mountain Vahki Phase Estrella Phase Sweetwater Phase Snaketown Phase Gila Butte Phase Santa Cruz Phase Sacaton Phase Soho Phase Civano Phase TUCSON BASIN GILA PLAIN Agua Caliente Tortolita Phase Estrella Phase Sweetwater Phase Snaketown Phase Canada Del Oro Phase Rillito Phase Rincon Phase Tanque Verde Phase Tucson Phase 1Y Gila Plain Bowl (Smudged Variety) with large slate/schist temper particles. Approximate Dimensions: 9 1/8" by 5 1/4" 2N Gila Plain Micaceous Bowl Approximate Dimensions: 4 1/8" by 1 1/2" 3Y Gila Plain Scoop Approximate Dimensions: 5 3/8" by 3 7/8" by 3 1/8" This page last revised: 07/02/2011 Copyright: 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 All Rights Reserved. We welcome your linking to our site, however all documents, webpages, photographs and images are the property of www.rarepottery.info. Written permission is required to copy, download or use any text, photographs or image files. Contact: rarepotteryinfo@aol.com