It has surprised me that the majority of pottery shards I find in the New Mexico desert are painted. The unpainted ones are the exceptions. So these must not have been special ceremonial pots, but for every day use. The fact that the pueblo people put such a high value on decoration for everyday objects is fascinating. I think of aboriginals as utilitarians struggling to survive. But if you're taking the time to decorate normal pots, survival must be relatively assured.

I'd like to exchange lives with someone who made those pots for a for a few weeks, and compare notes. I wonder if I have more or less free time than they do.