Great Basin Brown Ware

Great Basin Brown Ware is a broad classification for brown, generally plain pottery produced by Late Prehistoric groups in the Great Basin. Vessels are typically small to medium jars and bowls with rounded bases and simple rims. Surfaces are usually only roughly smoothed, with little to no decoration, and show variable firing that creates mottled brown, tan, and gray exteriors.

Most vessels fall between 100 and 240 mm in diameter and 100 to 220 mm in height. Wall thickness is commonly 5 to 9 mm.

Found throughout much of the Great Basin, including Nevada, western Utah, southern Idaho, and adjoining parts of California and Oregon.

Great Basin Brown Ware is widely distributed but often sparse at individual sites. It reflects a relatively low-investment ceramic tradition among highly mobile forager-horticultural groups, and is often associated with late Numic expansions.