What Is the Meaning of a Bird Symbol in Acoma Pottery?

Parrots are a common theme in Acoma pottery.

The geometric shapes and stylized animals that decorate New Mexico's Acoma pottery tell a story about the appreciation of nature, particularly rain. The pottery is from the villages surrounding the ancient Acoma Pueblo, which is also known as Sky City, since it sits on top of a steep sandstone mesa. Collectors worldwide value the dramatic black and rust designs and delicate, thin-walled, white clay of Acoma pots.

History

The Acoma Pueblo traces its history back to around 1150 AD. Its name means "people of the white rock," according to Albuquerque's Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The website Migrations says the name derives from the Kerasan word "Aak'u," meaning "mesa top" and a "place prepared." This may reflect the mesa's position as a natural, defensive stronghold.

Significance

Water is scarce in the arid American Southwest.

The Migrations website indicates that weather is an important theme in the Acoma designs. "Hatching symbolizes rain, stepped motifs represent clouds, double dots stand for raindrops, and other symbols stand for mountains, lightning, and thunderclouds." Turquoise Trading Post's website identifies the weather symbols as being the pottery's most important theme. The second most important is based on the legend of the "rain bird."

Rain Bird

Spanish conquistadors brought parrots to the American Southwest. In the legend of the rain bird, as recounted by Turquoise Trading Post, local women followed an escaped parrot that they saw flying in the same direction every day "and discovered a water hole with clean, cool water flowing into it." Ever since, the story says, rain birds have appeared on pottery jars "that the women carried on their heads to transport the water to the village."

Types

Legend says a parrot led the Acomas to water.

Macaws also are bird images used on Acoma pots. In addition to water jars, the first Acoma pottery included jars for grain and seeds, bowls for dough and dining, pitchers and canteens. A double-spouted wedding vase style became popular in the 1800s. Nowadays, Acoma artists also make storyteller figures and vessels in the shape of animals, such as turtles.

Artists

The website Indian-Artifacts says two of the most famous potters were Lucy Lewis and Rose Chino. The craft is passed down among the Acomas from generation to generation. Now Chino's daughter, who learned it from her mother and grandmother, is carrying on the tradition.

References

• Indian Pueblo Cultural Center: Acoma Pueblo
• Migrations: Traditional Acoma Pottery
• Turquoise Trading Post: Significant Symbols of Southwest Art
• Indian-Artifacts: Why Does Acoma Pottery Cost So Much?

Resources

• GoWiggle: Native American