Anthropology, Department of
Nebraska Anthropologist
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Date of this Version
2026
Document Type
Article
Citation
Nebraska Anthropologist (2026)
Anthropology Department, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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Abstract
This paper examines whether smudging and polishing the interior of a ceramic cooking vessel will result in a non-stick cooking surface. The experimental study displayed in this paper is inspired by the prehistoric Southwestern practice of smudging and polishing ceramic bowls in the Mogollon region. Many scholars have assumed that smudged and polished cooking surfaces result in non-stick cooking surfaces, but no experimental studies have been conducted to test this. This paper aims to restart the conversation around the non-stick nature of smudged and polished bowls by recording the cleaning process after cooking. To create a holistic approach to this study, a cross-cultural comparison of smudging practices and previous experimental studies is included to inform the methods and understand the study’s outcomes. The experiment shows that smudging and polishing a ceramic cooking bowl’s interior surface will result in greater reusability and less cleaning time because of the impermeability of smudged surfaces combined with polishing. This paper also highlights the need for further experimental work in this area, as the sample size in this study was small and the timeline was constrained.
Comments
Copyright 2026, Galaxie Pendleton. Used by permission