Pottery type
Thule Plain Ware
Thule Plain Ware1000 – 1600 A.D.Arctic/Sub-Arctic PotteryKey facts
- Age
- 1000 – 1600 A.D.
- Cultural period
- Arctic/Sub-Arctic Pottery
- Material
- Coarse clay tempered with grit, sand, or crushed rock. Some examples include organic tempering from local sediments. Fired at low temperatures in open hearths, producing dark gray to brown coloration.
Description
Thule Plain Ware is a prehistoric Arctic pottery tradition associated with ancestral Inuit (Thule) groups. Vessels are small, thick-walled cooking pots with plain, minimally finished exterior surfaces. They often have rounded bases, straight or slightly flaring rims, and simple shaping. Decoration is extremely rare, emphasizing functionality over design.
Size
Typical vessels range from 10–22 cm in height and 12–24 cm in diameter. Walls are thick, averaging 8–15 mm to withstand direct heat.
Distribution
Found across the western and eastern Arctic, especially along coastal Alaska, northern Canada, and Greenland.
Additional information
Thule ceramics were utilitarian and used primarily for cooking and heating. Pottery production gradually decreased as metal and soapstone vessels became more common.