are defined by a distinct Plain, Red, and Decorated ware tradition. Hohokam Plain and Red wares were primarily tempered with a variety of materials including micaceous, phyllite, or Squaw Peak schist, as well as granite, quartz,quartzite, and arkosic sands. Based on the type of temper used these are classified by the geographic region of their manufacture:
- Gila (Gila River basin)
- Wingfield (Agua Fria basin, the Northern Periphery, or Lower Verde Area)
- Squaw Peak (Phoenix Metro area north of the Salt River)
- South Mountain (Phoenix Metro area south of the Salt River)
- Salt (Salt or Verde River basins) Plain and Red wares
The surfaces of Plain wares were smoothed to some extent and many were polished, and after the vessels were fired turned a colour that ranged from light or dark brown, gray, to orange. Later in time the interiors of bowls were slipped with a black carbonous material. Hohokam Red wares were slipped with using an iron based pigment that turned red after the vessel was fired.
The manufacture of decorated Hohokam pottery was similar to that of the plain wares. However, the clays tended to be of a finer quality and were tempered with caliche and limited amounts of very finely ground micaceous schist and small particles of vegetive material.