DESIGNS ON PREHISTORIC HOPI POTTERY 
By Jesse Waurer Fawkes 
INTRODUCTION 
In the following pages the author has endeavored to draw atten- 
tion to some of the most important symbols on Hopi pottery, espe- 
cially those of prehistoric times. 
Consideration of this subject has led to'a discussion of the char- 
acter of pottery designs at different epochs and the interpretation, 
by study of survivals, of ancient designs in modern times. This 
chronological treatment has necessitated an examination of ceramic 
material from ruins of different ages and an ethnological study of 
ancient symbols still surviving in ceremonials now practiced. It has 
also led to sociological researches on the composition of the tribe, the 
sequence in the arrival of clans at Walpi, and their culture in distant 
homes from which they migrated. It will thus appear that the sub- 
ject is a very complicated one, and that the data upon which conclu- 
sions are based are sociological as well as archeological. There are 
many ruins from which material might have been obtained, but only 
a few have been adequately investigated. The small number of ruins 
in the Hopi country which have thus far been excavated necessarily 
makes our knowledge not only provisional but also imperfect. It is 
hoped, however, that this article may serve to stimulate others to 
renewed field work and so add desired data to the little we have 
bearing on the subject. 
Curonotocy or Horr Porrery SymeBors 
At least three well-marked epochs can be distinguished in the his- 
tory of Hopi ceramic symbolism. Each of these is intimately asso- 
ciated with certain clans that have from time to time joined the Hopi 
and whose descendants compose the present population. Although 
these epochs follow each other in direct sequence, each was not 
evolved from its predecessor or modified by it, except to a very 
limited extent. Each epoch has left to the succeeding one a heri- 
tage of symbols, survivals which are somewhat difficult to differen- 
tiate from exotic symbols introduced by incoming clans. So that 
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