Arizona State Museum cares for the world’s largest, most comprehensive collection of Southwest Native pottery. The vessels in Arizona State Museum’s collection carry stories of:
• Ancient migrations and trade networks
• Remarkable artisanship and scientific discovery
• Cultural continuity and artistic innovation
• Identity and resilience

Southwest Native pottery is renowned for its beauty and for its ability to tell the stories of Indigenous peoples. Pottery vessels became common in the region by 150 CE, and though the craft has changed in many ways, it continues to be a tradition handed down through the generations. Pottery vessels hold keys to the past and promise for the future. In this exhibit, explore, experience, and be inspired by 2,000 years of Southwest Native pottery.