Signed Acoma Pueblo Native American Polychrome Vase. White and black lined star pattern on top, with black, white, and reddish-orange lines and shapes on the lower half. Signed "L Antonio" and "Acoma, N.M." on underside. 

Size: 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 x 2 3/4 in. 

#4084 . 

Acoma Pueblo is a Native American pueblo approximately 60 miles west of Albuquerque, New Mexico. Four communities make up the village of Acoma Pueblo: Sky City (Old Acoma), Acomita, Anzac, and McCartys. The Acoma Pueblo tribe is a federally recognized tribal entity, and the pueblo itself is a National Historic Landmark. The Acoma have continuously occupied the area for over 2000 years, making it one of the oldest continuously inhabited communities in the United States. Juan de Oñate conquered the native populace by 1599, but the area proved a strategic point for the Acoma during the Pueblo Revolt in 1680. Over the centuries the Acoma people adopted aspects of Spanish culture and religion into their traditions, creating a syncretic way of life. In 1923 the All Indian Pueblo Council gathered for the first time in more than 300 years, and convinced Congress to pass the Pueblo Lands Act in 1924, allowing them to retain their land. However, Protestant missionaries established schools in the area, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs forced Acoma children into boarding schools, where they were punished for not learning English and practicing Christianity. Several generations became cut off from their culture and language, with harsh effects on their families and societies. Contemporary Acoma culture remains relatively closed, and according to the 2010 United States Census, 4,989 people identified as Acoma. Today, about 300 adobe buildings remain on the Acoma mesa, with exterior ladders used to access the upper levels where residents live. Access to the mesa is by a road blasted into the rock face during the 1950s, navigable by car and bus. Approximately 30 people live permanently on the mesa, and tourists (roughly 55,000 annually) visit mainly on the weekends. While photography is allowed with a permit, video recordings, drawings, and sketching are prohibited. Acoma pottery remains one of their most notable and recognizable artforms, with their origins dating back more than a thousand years. Dense local clay dug up at a nearby site is dried and strengthened by the addition of pulverized pottery shards. The pieces are then shaped, painted, and fired. Geometric patterns, animals like geckos and thunderbirds, and rainbows are traditional designs, which are applied with the spike of a yucca plant. A potter lightly knocks the side of the pot upon completion and holds it to their ear; if the pot does not ring, it will crack during firing. If this is found, the piece is destroyed and ground into shards for future use. Several artistic families devoted to crafting distinct designs on pottery have emerged in the last forty years as tourism grew exponentially, including those of matriarchs Lucy Lewis and Carolyn Concho.