Archaeologists studying Bonito phase (ca. A.D. 900-1140) Native American ceramics from Chaco
Canyon, New Mexico, observed that many pots had been altered after firing to revise their
decorative designs--usually, intricate geometric patterns painted in black on white slipped surfaces.
In some cases, a new design was imposed over an earlier one; less often, the original design was
simply covered with white slip. Crown and Wills doubt that the alterations were made to correct
design errors. Many Chaco pots with design errors were left unaltered. Furthermore, when errors
were corrected, revisions were made prior to firing—either by painting directly over the error or
by scraping off designs and applying new slip and paint, which is a less time-consuming method
than repainting and refiring flawed pots.
1. The author of the passage mentions Crown and Wills primarily in order to
A. Distinguish among different factors that might have caused Chaco potters to alter their pots’
decorative designs.
B. Introduce new evidence related to the question of why Chaco potters altered their pots’
decorative designs.
C. Show how one potential explanation for the alteration of Chaco pots has been discounted.
D. Present a hypothesis about why Chaco pots were altered to revise their decorative designs.
E. Explain how archaeologists discerned the method by which Chaco pots were originally
decorated.