How To Make a Chaco Cylinder Jar From Start To Finish

In which I make a Chaco Canyon style cylinder jar and discuss what they were used for.
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Andy Ward PO Box 43601 Tucson, AZ 85733
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[@AncientPottery]

This is #4 of the 7 pots for this season's "Ancient Pottery Challenge". Please consider joining in and trying one of these. To see the other pots in this challenge watch the Season 5 Ancient Pottery Challenge playlist - kzbin.info/aero/PLxjk09ZJzrlt2wjSAcxXdbiui1L3lRINI

[@tsalvlaxitov9594]

The editing in the beginning over the out of focus shot was actually really well done and entertaining. This channel deserves a lot more subs and views than it has.

[@AncientPottery]

It was kind of making lemonade when I had lemons. Glad you liked it.

[@AncientAmericas]

Two fantastic reduced iron paint firings in a row! It's wonderful to see your patience and perseverance pay off.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, thanks. Now I think I am ready for the "How to reduction pit fire pottery" video.

[@4quall]

Ha fancy seeing you here! I love when KZbinrs I subscribe to end up being fans of each other as well. 😊

[@timothyrussell1179]

A bit out of focus but man did he make up for it with the post-edit skill. Always entertaining. Thanks so much for sharing with us again, Andy!

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@lizmikols2075]

Yippee! I had decided a few weeks ago (when I discovered you) that a Chaco Choco "Cup" would be my first project. I've collected images, read up, etc. Now I have the Master's video! Wish me luck.

[@AncientPottery]

It might make a good first project, have fun!

[@lizmikols2075]

@@AncientPottery thx! yep: a cylinder. No curves! I agree about gentle undulations. My bugaboo when coilbuilding in the past.

[@PSC9634]

@lizmikols2075 Good luck. Share it!

[@lizmikols2075]

@@PSC9634 THX! Yes, I will. Unless it's a total disaster! 😂

[@janelledavidson8690]

Good job Andy

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks 👍

[@calebwarnock9131]

Excellent work

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@tatovive]

Long time fan. Man this episode was great! I really enjoyed the extra information about Chaco people and their trade areas. Your description and presentation were awesome. Thanks man!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, I am glad you liked it.

[@angeladazlich7145]

'Gentle Undulation' would be a good title for your next book. Or a band.

[@AncientPottery]

Ha ha!

[@RainCloudSociety]

Incredible 👏

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@sheilam4964]

I'm so happy that firing turned out the way you had hoped it would. Thx for filming this and sharing it with us.

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome.

[@masonwelty8058]

Inspiring video as always. Love to see you excited about your results. Thanks for sharing

[@AncientPottery]

My pleasure!

[@northernflyer5311]

Andy, please do a video just on Chaco. It is, indeed a great place.

[@AncientPottery]

I will if I can get permission to film video in the park. Filming in National Parks can be difficult.

[@andrewsackville-west1609]

Those are just beautiful, Andy! Congratulations, well done! On a side note, I *knew* the carbon was coming from the soil. Nice to see some evidence of that. Thanks for sharing your trials with us.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks. yes I am also glad to see my suspicions confirmed.

[@dorotheadiallo5790]

Congratulations! The cylinders turned out fantastic! The unfocused bit in the beginning of the video makes it easy to connect to you as a real person who is working very hard on these videos. More pre-history content is always welcome, just as more about pots and fires.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you, I am always working on more videos so your feedback is appreciated.

[@skyer3894]

Your videos have great educational and historical value. Thanks for all the hard work and for sharing. Also the pots are beautiful 🎉

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you very much!

[@freshoutofcrabs]

I appreciate that you not only show us how you go about making the pottery, but teach us a bit of the history of the people and culture who originally made the pottery.

[@llanitedave]

Really well done video on every level, Andy. I'm happy for your success, and the explanations you gave while building the cylinder addressed exactly all the problems I'd had when I attempted mine. I guess I'll have another in the pipeline!

[@AncientPottery]

Glad to hear it, I look forward to seeing your next cylinder. Thanks

[@airstreamwanderings3683]

Outstanding. The 2nd layer of sherds is really good thinking.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Wes.

[@annemorrison1007]

Great video! I was really interested to see how you used a guide to help you apply the design evenly over the cylinder jar. The idea of painting a design terrifies me, and I have several pots that I am happy with shape-wise, but too scared to apply a design. Showing how you fixed a "mistake" was really helpful. Thank you!

[@AncientPottery]

Work the design out on paper, then just jump in, you will make mistakes but that's okay, that is how you will learn and improve.

[@artistirmafeliciarodriguez7752]

Awesome Job, Thanks for sharing

[@AncientPottery]

You are welcome, glad you liked it.

[@stephenwalford774]

Perfect Andy..well done, all the hard work has paid off.the idea of the extra layer of sherd to protect is a changer in this method

[@AncientPottery]

I think you may be right about the second layer of sherds. More experiments to come so I can be sure that is what made the difference. Thanks

[@stephen33]

have you ever thought of trying to recreate the meal inside to pot? Im sure Max Miller from tasting history would love the idea of creating a dish from archeological research.

[@AncientPottery]

It has crossed my mind, I love Tasting History

[@mihailvormittag6211]

👍 The Chaco Culture is really interesting and mysterious. I like hearing stories about it. The effect at the beginning is great. You have at least two great talents. One of them is that of a potter and the other is that of a filmmaker. O, I have forgotten one talent, that of a historian. At least three.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@mihailvormittag6211]

👍​@@AncientPottery

[@ShawnRitch]

Wow ! Beautiful work

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you very much!

[@rachelofblueridge2593]

I've really been interested in this type of pottery, but have had the hardest time finding instructions that are easy to follow. Thank you for making an easy to understand instructional video from start to finish.

[@AncientPottery]

I have lots of other videos on this topic and I also have classes.

[@vixwolf2037]

Thank you for sharing your mistakes, in addition to your anecdotes and the history involved youve gotten so good with sharing your personality here and its appreciated by all of us learning to do pottery, you really capture the anxiety and stress relief embodied in those of us who share the love of pottery

[@AncientPottery]

You are welcome, I am so glad you are enjoying my videos, I am trying to get better with each video I make.

[@Rafael_Mena_Ill]

This reminds me a lot of Patricia Martin Morales's work, she too does ancient style ceramic pottery pieces, mostly Maya replicas- Her work is absolutely exceptional, much like yours! You guys should definitely get in touch!

[@AncientPottery]

Interesting, I had never heard of her before but I just looked her up, amazing work. I was looking for a meso-american pottery replicator and had not found any. Thanks for the tip.

[@Rafael_Mena_Ill]

@@AncientPottery She's available on her page and facebook and is a very amiable person! I've bought a piece of hers already and hope to adquire more in the future. There was another potter that specialized in medieval central mexican "mixteco-pueblean" ceramics, some incredibly beautiful stuff. Unfortunately, covid took him away from us :(

[@itzakpoelzig330]

What was his name? I'd like to look up his stuff.

[@ChadZuberAdventures]

Wow! This is really fascinating! I really want to make some Chaco pottery now. I’ve got to get some other projects finished first. I love this video 👍

[@carinaheviaromano6462]

Marvelous! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@g-r-a-e-m-e-]

The end result is beautiful. A pleasure to see it all come together.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@hanzgunther]

That is so cool! I’ve lived in Albuquerque for 30 years. Gonna make a trip to Chaco soon. You did a wonderful job on those.

[@AncientPottery]

What a great place Chaco is. Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@PSC9634]

Absolutely beautiful designs and great artistry painting it on. These are harder to make than they look.

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you.

[@jasongannon7676]

I love how well they turned

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@Kargoneth]

Nice pots! You discovered an excellent reduction-furing sandwich recipe! Good work, Andy!

[@matanui232]

Brother, those are some *fine* jars. The hatching pops so well because of the brilliant white!

[@blacksusan108]

beautiful pots! love the history you included

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed

[@willorocks]

Wow! They turned out beautiful Andy! Interesting setup too!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks Will. FYI this firing cooled well below 500 C before I smothered.

[@willorocks]

@@AncientPottery Wow that's good to know!

[@angelageorge1966]

Brilliant jars, painting and firing ❤

[@AncientPottery]

Thank you

[@sandrinakeffufal6008]

Thanks for explaining the details and the thought process :)

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome

[@Adriaanthecrafter]

Finished building mine. struggled a bit with the first coil but got it finished. Thanks for the good video sir

[@AncientPottery]

That's great, if you upload it to Instagram with #ancientpotterychallenge I will share your pot on a video when I am done.

[@Adriaanthecrafter]

​@@AncientPotteryCool! The pot might just take a while to dry since its winter and it is extremely rainy.

[@markgibsons_SWpottery]

That is some very even hatching! Great pieces!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@wiliame]

congratulations!! happy for you to have made such a good fireing!!! and awsome video, editing and the music in teh background was cute, not to loud, just barely tickling the ears!! well done!! good work! and thanks for a fun moment

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks, I work hard to make videos I would enjoy watching, I appreciate it when others like those videos.

[@LighthouseFamilyCrafts-1592]

those turned out amazing! ancient chocolate mugs? awesome :)

[@clementramon8589]

Sweet! Nice job Andy. 😮 very exciting...

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks 👍

[@artofescapism]

Very cool! Thank you for the history lesson!

[@1a1u0g9t4s2u]

Your satisfaction with the firing really shines through. I recognize the need for you to minimize the cool down time in order to get out from the summer heat but would the ancient ones given more time for the cool down leaving the firing only to return at a later time perhaps the next day?

[@AncientPottery]

Yes, the ancient potters probably waited until the next day. I have done that in the past but there were cows all over this area when I was out there and I didn't want to come back in the morning and find a cow had stepped in the middle of my pots.

[@ellenlinscheid9435]

Such a great job andy!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks so much!

[@DabblinDawn]

Great video, Andy!!! ❤

[@AncientPottery]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GhostyOcean]

Beautiful outcome! Seeing the journal made me chuckle a little!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks. I went to VidCon without any way to take notes, so I was at Disneyland the day before and they had these notebooks so I figured it would save me time to just buy one of those. Also it makes a good memory of my trip.

[@judithwinkler1553]

Great video. I always learn something, and I like how you combine cultural archaeology/anthropology with craft. I am a beginning potter and enjoy trying to semi-replicate your pots. I find it hard to keep coil pots vertically straight and the insides are always very "coily" so I am going to try flattening the coils a bit. Congratulations on achieving crisp clean black and white. It is not possible for me to dig clay, make paint etc. at this time, so I am trying to copy the painting with underglaze. My pots are still wonky but getting better.

[@bigbranch1]

Great video....inspiring ....thank you.

[@AncientPottery]

You are so welcome!

[@jamescecil3417]

Looking great Andy!

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@jamescecil3417]

@@AncientPottery That pattern is a dazzler!

[@AlanDayley]

Thank you for showing the mistake correction. I wondered if correction was possible.

[@AncientPottery]

It's easier with mineral paint like this.

[@chanaheszter168]

Wow, stunning pots! Best chick flick ever! Ceramics and chocolate!

[@AncientPottery]

Ha ha, thanks.

[@judithwinkler1553]

Suggestion: I would love to see you build one of those pots with the body shaped like a flying saucer. I tried making two "bowls" by filling the puki twice and attaching the "tops" of the bowls ogether, which is similar in shape but not right. Wonder if the ancients ever put two puki molded pieces together like I did. Love all your videos as well and the puki and polishing stone I ordered from you.

[@eightchickens4415]

Please tell us you make chocolate in the next video! :) Here in NM some people still make it in red clay cylinders, they just have side handles.

[@AncientPottery]

I do hope to do that at some point but not the next video. I think I need to make a smaller cylinder because this one could hold a half gallon of hot chocolate.

[@ncktbs]

you know its a good black and white when i thought you were showing the paper drawing of what you would make in the thumbnail

[@AncientPottery]

Ha ha, yes, this is the best white ever, I think putting more cover sherds on top of the coals really helped.

[@cindydawson3815]

❤ it! Congratulations

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks

[@TuttleScott]

they came out great. I'd be nervous firing them and waiting to see how it came out. so much work and ???

[@AncientPottery]

So much anticipation. Thanks

[@Nicholas.2]

Great video! I love this project and its very neat backstory. What thermal imaging camera do you use? Would you have recommendations for learners about what to buy or what not to? It seems like yours measures at least double what the ones on Amazon do.

[@AncientPottery]

Thanks. You need an infrared thermometer that goes up to at least 1000 C, a lot of those you will find around don't go that high. But I did buy mine on Amazon, here is a link to that amzn.to/3xQj0Lz (This is an affiliate link so I make a small commission on sales)

[@Nicholas.2]

​​@@AncientPotteryAh, excellent -- I had searched thermal imaging camera and the hits were all wrong -- pyrometer! Thanks kindly, happy to use your affiliate link, thanks for pointing it out!

[@ZoonCrypticon]

@4:50 What would you do if a piece of clay drops in at that height ? How do you get it out without damaging the bottom and wall parts that would get surface irregularities ? Thank you very much for your excellent instructional videos !

[@AncientPottery]

Hmm, that's a tough one. Maybe you could carefully grab it with a pair of tongs or something like that. You might also be able to wait for it to dry a little more and then just scrape it out with a long handled spoon.

[@chrisinkansas8507]

Cool, man.

[@joehollingshead7302]

That 1st coil has been my downfall, finally got it. The story of these jars is one of my favorites. Thanks Andy.

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome. Glad to hear it, that first coil can be a real problem.

[@kirkvoelcker5272]

The finding by Patricia Crown that cocoa was consumed solely for ritual purposes has been revised substanially. Researchers have found thiobromine residues in a variety of vessels at many locations outside of Chaco Canyon before the construction of the Great Houses. Dorothy Washburn found thiobromine and caffiene residues in a variety of vessels dating to 750 AD. Cocoa was likely a trade good.

[@AncientPottery]

Archaeologists change their collective mind every few years, I take it all with many grains of salt. I am aware that chocolate had been identified in other places since. And obviously it was a trade good, how else was it supposed to have arrived in New Mexico?

[@chanaheszter168]

What a relief....

[@createyourpeace6896]

ahahah i love that he broke the 4th wall.

[@TURIECFOTO]

how u made that white color?:) great job

[@AncientPottery]

It's just the color of the clay I used, it comes out of the ground that color.

[@timothyrussell1179]

Is that a Forest Service buckle? Were you a forester or ranger at some point? Very cool buckle in any case.

[@AncientPottery]

Yes Forest Service, I spent 10 years working as a seasonal fire fighter.

[@timothyrussell1179]

@@AncientPottery Very cool. I work as a Forester out in NY. Always good to meet a USFS worker. Thanks for your work. Also, I love the pottery channel!

[@FenixDragoon-ri1nh]

So I'm looking into getting into pottery and want to make my own clay. Though I live in a swampy area and had a couple questions. Can you make clay in humid environments? I'm currently in Missouri And because I live in an apartment and am around a lot of privately owned land, I can't legally dig up dirt for my own uses. Can I buy big bags of cheap top soil girt for gardening and make it from that, or is it cheaper to just buy the clay at that point?

[@Ka99999990]

I wonder if the tall cylinders were used as a sort of "french press" where a mixture of ground cocoa and boiling water is mixed, stirred, then let to settle over time. The press part of the french press is not actually needed to filter the coffee, gravity and time do it better according to coffee experts. So a tall cylinder is really all that's needed to filter fine grounds out of a drink.

[@AncientPottery]

Could be. I have read that in Mexico chocolate was drunk with a heavy froth and that was formed by pouring from a great height. So always envision someone pouring chocolate from one cylinder into another to create froth.

[@amospena2046]

Hello sir, is there any place I can e mail you with questions, I am from the cibola area (grants) my issue is with my clay I can't seem to get em plasticity in it.

[@AncientPottery]

You probably need better clay, that area has lots of clays to choose from. You can use the contact form on my website to get in touch with me ancientpottery.how/contact-us/

[@miguelpaul1164]

Awesome work!! You are so skilled at coiling and painting you make it look easy but it is not.

[@ivanmamulin2768]

Братан, хорош, давай, давай, вперёд! Контент в кайф, можно ещё? Вообще красавчик! Можно вот этого вот почаще?

[@jill-ti7oe]

😄👍👏

[@briankepner7569]

Possibly fermentation jars? Think the answer lies in how you process chocolate. Getting rid of the big pulp and then fermenting. I'm no expert.

[@AncientPottery]

Could be. Patricia Crown has said that she thinks the chocolate was coming north in a fully processed form, but who knows really.

[@Aleph-Noll]

chaco canyon more like chocolate canyon lol

[@AncientPottery]

LOL

[@HybridParentSupport]

Hot chocolate 🤤

[@AncientPottery]

Yes!

[@rohnmiller8063]

That is Amazing!!! Thank You!

[@AncientPottery]

You're welcome!