I used to think all old pottery was just broken junk until I saw the Mimbres bowls from New Mexico.

For years, I'd see a pile of old potsherds and think it was trash, but a trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings changed that. The guide explained how each Mimbres bowl, even the broken ones from around 1000 AD, had a story in its design, like animals or people. Now I look at any old piece of clay and wonder what it was part of and who made it. Has anyone else had a find that totally changed how you see everyday objects from the past?

3 comments

3 Comments

harper_owens2mo ago

Honestly, I still see a pile of broken pottery and think it's just a pile of old dirt. Not everything needs a deep story.

ellis.robert1mo ago

Wait, you too? I did that exact same thing at a museum last month. There was this big display of old clay pots and I literally said out loud "looks like my garage after a windy day." My friend got all serious and started telling me about ancient trade routes or something. I just nodded and thought about how I tripped over a stack of flower pots last spring and the mess looked almost the same. Have you ever had someone explain the "cultural significance" of something you just saw as a bunch of trash?

verap522mo ago

Sometimes it's just broken stuff, you know? People back then broke plates and cups too. Not every chip needs a museum.