Pottery has been an innate part of Native American culture for nearly 2,000 years. Early pottery artifacts, dating back to around 150 CE, were found in the Southwest region. Through centuries of artistic evolution, various tribes in the area developed their own unique styles and techniques. Pottery started off being used for practical purposes like cooking, eating, and storing food. As pottery became more popular, it began to be used as decorative objects, with unique designs, symbolic representations, and individual meanings.

Native Americans used clay from riverbeds, mixing it with a temper like sand or crushed charcoal to reduce shrinkage during firing. The clay mixture was then basked in the sun or fire to create a durable form. Early pottery was made using traditional techniques like coal-building or slab methods and was then decorated with hand painting or etching. Over time, different tribes developed their own unique styles and techniques.