My book, "Mud Puzzles" talks a lot about the ancient trade routes of the ancient Southwest. It is available on my website at ancientpottery.how/product/book-mud-puzzles/

I think this topic is way under-emphasized by most of the literature I've seen about the region's history. I really appreciate the way you continue to give it the credit it's due.

Great episode and thanks for the shout out!

Absolutely love ancient pottery and their patterns.

No doubt that there were extensive trade networks. I live in south Louisiana and the nearest minerals usable for making knives, arrowheads, and other sharp implements are hundreds of miles away. However, they were abundant enough that Native Americans must not have thought much of losing them because you could easily find arrowheads in stream banks and other areas up until the time my dad was a teenager. No doubt there was tons of flint being brought to south Louisiana.

Absolutely love the wealth of knowledge you provide and the enthusiasm with which you do!

There are pictures dating back of people carrying a massive amount of pottery with the tumpline so that it almost reaches twice their height and girth. And, all while walking about a mountain. I never thought I would see this recreated on KZfaq. Cheers to your channel and its honoring of indigenous culture.

I'm enjoying your videos about southwest history and ancient pottery. Thanks for all the effort you put into making them.

At 8:00 I see the trader has what looks maybe like bells? attached to his knees and wrist and other clothing. This might be so cool to announce the arrival of this travelling salesman! I can see folks rushing out to meet him for news and a look at his wares.

Oh man, this channel is right up my alley. The Ancient America shout-out! That's an incredible story. Unfortunately, I went through my primitive pottery stage about four years ago. I could have really used this channel! Unfortunately, southern Ontario has mostly blue clay, and not a lot of other exotic minerals. But I will try again!

Always enjoyable and informative !

I remember hearing a story when i was a kid about the trade routes. A local elder in the interior desert of British Columbia Canada told stories of going on a trade trip when he was very small. They took what they called white flint (chirt) south, into the desert plains of the northern southwest, trading for things with other nations. They were gone 2 winters and came home with many rare things that they used for an enriched life

Carry heavy pottery for mile after mile across a barren dry hilly landscape must have been arduous as well as dangerous! Great video, I have often wanted to know how they did it!

Informative, inspiring and funny! You did a great job!

How about Great Lakes copper on the Gulf Coast? And Lightening Whelk and conch shells in Nebraska? Tobacco out west and obsidian in the east. The ancients got around. In around 1250 or so, there was a period of global cooling that completely changed the weather. Too little or too much rain caused crop failure which caused famine, which led to war with the neighbors for food. Very good video. I did not know about a social caste of traders in the southwest, but it does make rather logical sense.

Good video! I have to say,... these ideas that you analyze here are the same things I have theorized about for many years! If one person left one village and taken info and advanced tools, and brings back info and advanced tools. Within 3 days every village would have all of the news from coast to coast and all would have access to new and improved technologies, simply by sending messengers both ways every day... This made it impossible to lie to eachother, because they were not only face to face, but also they were relying on the truth to improve their lives. I am hoping to witness the spirit of this face to face sharing of info at the kiln conference,.... I am really working hard to make it so I hope to see you there! Great work! Great tone! National geographic level of quality, if not better!

Nice video. One thing though: in the future, do not ignore the California cultures. Seashell beads and soapstone pendants and some of the finest basketry in the world were made along the coast. In addition there steatite vessels being made on Catalina Island, and the Chumash and Tongva peoples made well crafted ocean going canoes using some of the same techniques for shipbuilding that Vikings used.

What a great episode. Thank you Andy. You're a true inspiration.

Great video. Years ago I took a "Plains Literature" course at KU, where it was noted that "little men" (monkeys) were depicted in some North American Indian art, revealing their travels to places like northern Mexico.

GREAT 👍 video, Andy. Enjoyed this topic of traders, burden baskets. I’ve got pottery sherds from private property and sometimes I’m wondering if they were traded pots, made on-site or nearby. It’s fascinating.

Love your basket! I never thought about a tribe that specialized in trade. I just assumed that each tribe had individuals who specialized in trade. But that does make sense. Thanks for the video🐝🤗❤️

My Army Duffle bag weighed about 80 pounds when fully packed. I bet the traveling traders Did carry about that 80 pounds in those baskets. They look about the same size as a duffle bag.

Great historic info, Love your channel

👍 I love this videos about history.

Well written and researched. Thanks

You should put support to the bottom of that basket. If you go back to some of the pictures you displayed of old drawings, you will notice that rope was also coming from the bottom of the baskets. Evidence may have been mistaken for baby carriers.

I have a burden basket made by the TaraHumara people...a simple frame with rawhide weaving....works well

Those sticks inside re for tying your straps to. In Thailand they still make similar baskets.

Hey there! I just discovered your channel and it’s absolutely amazing! All of your videos are super informative and your passion really shows! I wanted to ask a couple of questions, the reason I found your channel is I’m making a video recreating a piece from a work of fiction, it’s a Japanese vase. I see your main interest is not Asian pottery but still would like to ask if you could share any knowledge about the topic. My second question is regarding the paint, should you paint before firing even if it’s a complex design? Won’t it damage the paint? Thank you so much for your videos!

In southwest nm they made literal tons of hand axe's I'm sure part for trade .

This is a fantastic video. I literally have been looking for a video like this because my girlfriend and I were arguing about how much the modern Mexican and American lands were separated by the desert. I have been proven wrong, which is rare for us talking about anthropology, but I am much more happy I have a more complete knowledge about trade and specific examples. Unrelated but of course I love ceramics, and all the other videos about how to make clay, the unique types of motifs, firepit kilns, even tips for beginners! I really really really love this channel thank you so much.

Cool video thanks for the Link

Nice

Bring that to the Kiln Conference

I think the middle of the basket should hit the hump of your back, so higher than your opinion. I think it makes it easier if it won't spill. Always love your vids!👍🏼

Very informative, without the matching outfit something is missing. 😉

Um, the lacing you installed to keep the rope in place? That's sewing. It just struck me as funny that you said you were avoiding sewing and immediately sewed in the rope. The button attachment you used was the better choice as sewing cloth to rope is a bear but it was pretty funny. Cool video. Thanks!

Is it possible that perforated pookis were use to make a dotted guide line for the pots lid?

😎 👍🏼

And I'm dreading an upcoming show an hour and a half away with a pickup truck. Hardly a burden by comparison. Great history, the pots too a lot to think about. Like were the pots empty or carrying another product.

I would be careful researching the Mogollon culture, some secrets have been lost for a reason... mr. ward. Mogollon NM may hold some interest to you.

The character at 8:21 is blowing my mind. It looks like an extremely pregnant woman (to the bellybutton-sticking-out stage) carrying a huge burden that goes over her head with what looks like a jackalope over it? I thought jackalopes were a modern cryptid. I can't imagine a woman that pregnant doing much travelling unless she had to, so maybe it's some legend about the baby she was to bear?

Thanks, very interesting. Perhaps I have a suspicious mind....is it possible that rather than the evidence being interpreted incorrectly, whatever doesn't fit the narrative (agreed upon consensus) is mitigated? It's just that, there are some considerable cover-ups in the "history" department. IMO

At 7:17 the baskets supported by poles beside the three ladies sitting on the ground are just fascinating! I can't figure out how they work, but I'm gonna guess. I see a strap hanging under a basket, so that implies -the front is the lower side- of that conical basket. (Wrong! See edit.) So maybe while it's being carried, the basket is actually level, not sloped. I see two crossed poles and one support pole at the back of the basket, but I can't see how they're attached. I'm wondering if they are attached or if the basket is just leaning on them somehow. *Edit: Looking closer, and comparing to the photo at **4:16**, I see the long crossed poles would be against the woman's back. They create the flat plane. The shorter poles attach at some sort of knot exactly at the crossing of the long poles' X, which implies it is a permanent frame, not collapsible. And the "easel" stick at the back forming the tripod has a U-shaped crook at the top to catch the basket edge/frame, not a hook or n-shaped thingy, so whatever I said elsewhere about that pole is probably wrong.* *The conical basket seems to be a perfect size and shape to carry the round-bodied pottery jar! Again, very easy to keep it level so whatever's inside wouldn't spill. Also, if the jar were full of water it would be very heavy so having a lower center of gravity would be very practical.* The ladies sitting on the ground is giving me some insights I hadn't thought of before. Setting a basket down on that level makes a lot more sense when your aim is to rest yourself on the ground beside it. Also the round-bottom pot is suddenly suggesting to me that if it were full of water, maybe it could be tipped over easily to pour, then set upright again without being unstable, due to the gravel and dirt supporting it. I've always been confused before why anyone would want a round-bottom pot, since on a hard surface they would be so wobbly. But for folks sitting on the ground, it might be very convenient for serving a drink without need for a dipper or ladle of any sort. So many of the shapes of pottery are beautiful but obscure in their uses to me. I'd be very interested if you made a video explaining how different shapes function for different intended uses. I'm sure the sizes and shapes of body, neck, handles, lip, and other features must have evolved over centuries to be exactly what was needed for various uses, and not just random. I'd love to know more about what they used to hold, and how they would dispense whatever they held.

I accidentally dropped a pot it's redish on the out side and black just under the surface is that normal or am I firing wrong, thanks for all you do great videos.

Aha! At 4:16 I see baskets being carried with similar frames as shown at 7:17! The long crossed poles, and the conical baskets do appear to be attached together somehow. And the burden going far over the ladies' heads is similar to other images shown on pottery in this video. The large frame is giving me an idea about the curved-top poles you mentioned that all burden-bearers carried! -What if the curved-top pole is meant to hook over the top of the carry frame to provide the tripod effect to support the basket/frame as it rests on the ground?- Also useful to hang the stick if you don't want to carry it, and also useful as a walking staff if you do want the extra support while walking especially on hills with loose gravel to navigate. Edit: Looking more carefully at those n-shaped crooks, the idea that they could be the support poles for a tripod seems unlikely. The shape wouldn't support anything. You need a Y-shaped crook to provide support. Maybe the n-shaped hooks could be handy to hang the pole from something, but it just can't work as a tripod support for the frame.

Am I able to do this in North Idaho with the mud and rocks that I find?

will wild iowa blue clay fire blue ? or turn red

It was seven years of severe drought that led to a slave uprising and the collapse of the southwest's untenable society.

Can i get ochers or pigments from soil

LILA DESIST! 😆