Expert: Ralph Salier - 1/17/2008

Question
I found 2 boxes of this pottery in the basement. I believe they are
pre-columbian, but do not know further specifics on date and/or origin.

http://s158.photobucket.com/albums/t111/fordellcastle/Artifacts/

Any information would be helpful. I do not know if they would be
welcomed by an institution or museum? Please advise

Answer
Hi Jane,

These are rather interesting.  Would you be kind enough to take more photos and this time place a ruler in the photo for the purposes of scale.  Also take them more "face on" rather then from above.  This will give me a much better look at the images on the items.  Also if you could take as close a photo as you can of the clay matrix so that I can see the way it was made.  

This can best be done near a cracked surface showing the exposed matrix.

Do you have any further information on these items? perhaps some documents or old news papers these were wrapped in that shows a date or place?  

They may be Pre-Columbian but thus far from the photos, I am unable to identify which culture and time frame.

My contact email is rsalier@hotmail.com