The Patayan Culture evolved along the Colorado River in northwestern Arizona, extending from the area around Kingman northeastward to the Grand Canyon. It includes both the Cerbat and Cohonina branches, but only the latter is represented in the Logan Collections.
Very little is known about Patayan culture. The presence of manos and metates to process corn indicate some level of agricultural production. Axes were, however, quite rare. Points and other tools for hunting and hide preparation have been found, and suggest a hunting and gathering economy. Almost no ornaments or perishables have been found.
Early Patayan sites consisted of shallow pithouses or surface "long houses". These latter consisted of a series of room arranged in a linear fashion. At the east end was a pitroom, perhaps for storage or perhaps for ceremonial activities. Later sites were little more than loose affiliations of varying house types.
The pottery of the Patayan is primarily plain ware, their painted wares being merely copies of contemporary local types. The earliest plain wares were much like Alma Plain of the Mogollon, except that they were made using the paddle-and-anvil method, and forms are more reminiscent of Hohokam types. Paddle-and-anvil construction was apparently the first technology introduced here, suggesting that it was the Hohokam who first expanded into this territory. Fugitive red slips were employed in some types.
San Fransisco Mountain Gray Ware
San Francisco Mountain Gray Ware is found in northwestern Arizona, between Kingman and the Grand Canyon. This ware is typically associated with the Cohonina branch of the Patayan culture, which had roots in common with the Anasazi, but gradually differentiated itself into several culture units.
Material: The clay is gray to brown, micaceous sand temper