This intact pottery vessel, found in the Ottawa Valley, is a fine example of the St. Lawrence Iroquois potter's artistry. Pottery was made by women who would first carefully clean the clay of any organic matter and then add crushed rock to act as tempering. The clay would then be worked into the desired form by the paddle and anvil technique and the decoration would be impressed or incised into the damp clay. Once the vessel had dried in the sun it was baked upside down in an open fire. The analysis of pottery fragments is an important archaeological activity since the various designs and methods of decoration used by ancient potters are characteristic of specific places and time periods and in addition pottery is durable and common in many archaeological sites.
Courtesy: Canadian Museum of Civilization, National Museums of Canada (S87-1313)
