Using Clay to Bridge Cultural Divides in 13th Century American Southwest

13th century Salado pottery reveals how indigenous women utilized a household craft to spread a message of cultural accord throughout the violent American Southwest. The particular style and design of pottery is found within three separate and often conflicting ethnic groups - a pattern that University of Missouri researchers say represents the infiltration of a unifying religion based on peace and accord between tribal nations.

“Conflict was defused through the direct action of women who sought to decrease the tensions that threatened to destroy their communities,” VanPool said. “The rise of the Salado tradition allowed threatened communities to stabilize over much of modern-day Arizona and new Mexico, altering the course of Southwestern prehistory. Given that the Salado system lasted from 1275 to around 1450, it was most certainly successful.”

Source: Kansas City Infozine, Wed. March 10, 2010