This Clay pot is a reproduction of the pottery that was manufactured by the Mandan and Hidasta people from 1600 to the late 1700s. These two tribes inhabited earth lodge villages along the Missouri River in what is now North Dakota. Complete and partial pots recovered from archaeological excavations are used as models for these reproductions. The size shape an decorations used on these reproduction pots are as close to the originals as possible. Round bottoms are a characteristic of Plains Village Pottery. Traditionally a willow hoop wrapped in willow bark was used to stabilize the pot when it was not in use. Ashes in the fire pit stabilized it when in use.
Pottery made during this time period was started by forming a small pinch pot, shaping it, and adding coils to enlarge the pot to the desired size.
Shaping of the pot was done in the potters lap, not on a wheel. Additional molding and shaping was done by paddling the exterior with a cottonwood bark paddle while holding an anvil stone opposite the paddle on the interior of the pot. This paddle and anvil technique gets rid of unwanted air pockets and helps weld the coils. If the coils are not welded or there are air pockets in the clay, the pot will break when fired.
This reproduction pot is an example of Knife River Ware. It was made using the same techniques as the Mandan and Hidasta. The clay was quarried by hand, the same type of grit was added to temper the clay, it was formed from a pinch pot, coils were added and a paddle and anvil was used for the additional shaping.
Made by Deapolos Reproductions By Wade Haakenson
You can
CLICK HERE to purchase possible Anvil Stones that could have been used in the making of Pottery like this.
