Artifact of the Week: Pottery Sherds
Indigenous peoples of Southern California have been creating and pit-firing clay pottery for thousands of years. Prehistorically, two pottery wares were constructed in the region. The inhabitants of the peninsular mountains produced Tizon brown ware while people in the Colorado…
Tools of the Trade
Dr. Arty Fax’s Archy Facts is a weekly blog introducing kids (currently stuck at home) to the exciting world of archaeology! Last week we learned about what archaeologists study (do you remember without looking back?) and how they use artifacts and…
Artifact of the Week: Kumeyaay Olla
Pottery was a valuable asset for people of the past. An olla is a ceramic jar, often unglazed, used for cooking, storage of water or dry foods, or for other purposes. They were watertight and rodent proof. Hot rocks were…
Artifact of the Week: Sherd with Basket Impression
The sherd above features cord marking, a surface decoration which involves pressing vegetal cordage or basketry into damp pottery. Since the archaeological record of San Diego County rarely includes preserved textiles, these impressions are an important source of information about…
