Explores museum collections and more than a century of archaeological research to create the first systematic understanding of the many ways Ancestral Pueblo people chose specific colors through time and space to add meaning and visual appeal to their lives.

"There is a lack of a systematic understanding of Ancestral Pueblo color choices over time and this manuscript aims at compiling a more complete picture of the geographic and temporal distribution of color use in the Ancestral Pueblo world. The manuscript consists of two parts. The first examines color itself, through the science of color perception to the social significance of color in the human experience. It includes ethnographic and archaeological evidence for the production and use of color, including the technical and material constraints that shaped the use of color and the extent of archaeological preservation. The second part focuses on color across a range of material objects, including ceramics, painted murals, textiles, ornaments, rock art, and other painted items. These chapters identify patterns in color use over time, their geographic distribution, and the implications of color in the Ancestral Pueblo world"--Provided by publisher.