Ceramic Distribution and Exchange: Jeddito Yellow Ware and Implications for Social Complexity

The scale of late prehistoric sociopolitical complexity on the ColoracWPlateau has been widely debated in the American Southwest. Proponents of an alliance model useJeddito Yellow Ware) manufactured at Hopi Mesa villages) as one offtur index wares. This distributional study ofJeddito Yellow Ware challenges aspects of the alliance model by using a data set that contains over 430 yellow ware sites throughout areas of NE Arizona. This pottery is found on the full range of site types and sizes) rather than simply at the large sites (i.e.) >50 rooms) that the alliance model assumes. Within the coreproduction area) Jeddito Yellow Ware is not characterized by restricted accessto such pottery: most (89%) yellow ware sites have two rooms or less. We argue that the distribution ofJeddito Yellow Ware in our study area can be understood in the context of inter-community exchange and communitybased craft specialization) rather than through elite-controlled ceramic exchange networks.