San Juan Red Ware Distribution Patterns and Social Networks in Southeastern Utah

This is an abstract from the "Transcending Modern Boundaries: Recent Investigations of Cultural Landscapes in Southeastern Utah" session, at the 84th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology. San Juan Red Ware was produced primarily in southeastern Utah beginning around AD 750, and these vessels were traded throughout the Four Corners region of the U.S. Southwest. Its distribution in southeastern Utah demonstrates intriguing patterns of consumption, as some areas within the production zone of this ware either did not participate in red ware exchange or only participated in limited exchange. Prior studies indicate this ware is closely connected to identity and was likely introduced to the region by migrants to the area. This paper examines both the distribution patterns of San Juan Red Ware and the social networks of southeastern Utah to investigate patterns of exchange in this area involving this ware. This analysis highlights the diversity apparent in the region and demonstrates the complexity of social networks found therein.