Early Colonial Period

In contrast to the stylistic diversity of the Pacajes-Inka phase, the Late Pacajes phase seem to be much more homogeneous. Only a single style of decorated ceramics has been identified which pertains to this phase. Late Pacajes decorated ceramics are always bowls and occasionally plates (plates illustrated in Figure 10.2m-n). With a few exceptions (like Figure 10.2c) they are unslipped, with a surface color that sometimes approaches purple - normally in the 10R 3/6-4/7 Munsell range. The rare slipped bowl may be burnished, but the vast majority have a wet wiped surface finish which is very distinctive. Virtually all Late Pacajes bowls have everted rims (exceptions illustrated in Figure 10.2j, s), and a rare subtype has a very widely flared rim (Figure 10.2a-c) which sometimes approaches a shelf rim. Late Pacajes everted rims have a clearly marked point of inflection as opposed to Early Pacajes rims, which usually have very vague inflection. Thus, a combination of surface treatment, surface color and rim form is usually enough to identify a Late Pacajes bowl even in the absence of any decoration.

Figure 10.2: Early Colonial Period ceramics

Two kinds of plastic decoration are known to occur on Late Pacajes decorated ceramics, both of which are derived from Late Horizon ceramics. First, some plates have cylindrical stems protruding from the rim, similar to the Late Horizon ``duck plates'' (Figure 10.2m-n). The only intact example I have observed has an ``X'' incised on the end of the cylinder (Figure 10.2n). More common are a series of nubs or small protrusions modeled on the rim of bowls (Figure 10.2o-p), occurring in groups of two or three spaced regularly around the circumference. These are occasionally perforated (Figure 10.2p).

Late Pacajes painted decoration is frequently polychrome, and three pigments are employed. The first appears to be an organic pigment, which produces a black or occasionally dark gray color over the red surface. The color area is normally quite diffuse, and its edges poorly defined. The principal parts of any design are usually rendered using this pigment (though see Figure 10.2j for an exception). The second type of painted decoration is a white pigment which is applied positively. It is normally used to embellish a design with the addition of white dots (Figure 10.2a-d, g, l-m). The third and rarest type of painted decoration of a yellow pigment which is applied positively. It is used in exactly the same manner as the white paint just described. The yellow pigment is often somewhat runny (Figure 10.2r, u), suggesting that it is either sloppily applied or that it has melted and run during firing. It may be some kind of glaze, though I am uncertain on this point.

The white and yellow pigments never occur on the same vessel, which may suggest that the yellow is simply a result of overfiring the white paint. Whatever the case, Late Pacajes decorated ceramics are always either a monochrome Black on Red or a bichrome Black and White on Red or Black and Yellow on Red.

The most common decorative motif consists of a series of shirt parallel lines pendant from the interior rim of bowls (Figure 10.2o-t). These may be black, white, or alternating black and white. Also fairly common is a branching motif (Figure 10.2i-m), probably representing a tree or other plant and clearly derived from a similar Saxamar motif (Figure 10.1aa-ab), though the motif is also present in the Late Horizon Chucuito Black on Red style ([Tschopik 1946]: 31). Less common decorative motifs include avian profile figures (Figure 10.1c-d), geometric designs (Figure 10.1g-h), a possible quadruped (Figure 10.1f) and biped (Figure 10.1e), and other figures which are not immediately identifiable (Figure 10.1a-b). The Late Pacajes ceramic decorative repertoire is apparently considerably more varied than has previously been suggested.