Artifact of the Week: Olla

This pot was discovered in Cleveland National Forest in 1968. Bees had created a hive above it and the beeswax dripped on the pot. The pot had a rock “lid” on top of it when it was found. At some point in time, a hole developed near the bottom of the pot. The pot was repaired using a sherd that was shaped into a round parch by grinding it down. The patch was then glued onto the pot with buc lac. Bug lac is a substance excreted by certain scale insects that is sticky when heated up and cools into a durable adhesive.

Date: Late Prehistoric Period (3,000 – 300 Years Ago)
Material Class: Pottery – Tizon Brown Ware

Want to learn more? Visit the exhibit The Life Story of a Pot currently on view at the Center.