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Art of the Americas to World War I
Course: Art of the Americas to World War I > Unit 2
Lesson 3: Ancestral Puebloan (formerly Anasazi)Socorro black-on-white storage jar
Ancestral Pueblo, Socorro black-on-white storage jar, c. 1050–100, clay and pigment, made in New Mexico, United States, 38.1 × 43.2 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art); speaker: Brian Vallo, Director, Indian Arts Research Center School for Advanced Research, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Created by The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Video transcript
VALLO: This ancestral Pueblo storage jar was
made at a time when there was a period of drought and where it was important for the
ancestral Pueblo people to begin storing as much foodstuff as they could in anticipation
of a drought. Perhaps some corn, beans, dried meats, breads,
different berries. They are still used today in some of the Pueblos
in New Mexico and in Arizona. Rain and clouds are key to the survival of
our people. The potter probably had a prayer for rain. And so clouds would be the black, and then
the lines represent rain. What looks like a hand symbol in the center
there might be the maker’s signature. In Acoma culture we refer to these pots as
kúdíyamunishi. Kúdíyamunishi is a reference to the ancient
people, or the original people. So when we utilize and recreate these forms
and these designs today, we are paying tribute to our ancestors.