Studying the "evolution" of stone palettes - they basically began and ended as uninteresting, unshaped, and undecorated flat stones used for mixing or pulverizing paint pigments, however, during their "hayday" in the Colonial Period, many were quite exquisite. Stone palettes became a unique artifact during the Colonial Period that were primarily made by the Hohokam. Trade with the Hohokam may have influenced Mimbres stone carvers to make palettes also, but not as many or as elaborate as the Hohokam. Most palettes easily fit in ones hand being rectilinear in shape. Most measure between four to eight inches in length, however they were made in a wide range of sizes. Miniatures have been found as well as comparatively huge "altar" pieces. Palettes are usually made of slate or slate-like schist, earlier and later undecorated ones were usually made of harder stone. Many have a slight basin in or near the center caused by grinding. Some have been found containing traces of red, white, and yellow paints, although palettes may have been used to grind organic material as well. Many have been found with patches of lead slag encrustations on the surfaces, some of these have small vitreous green glaze patches also. Most palettes were offerings used in cremation ceremonies, but not all of them. The lead was likely lead carbonate and when burned glowed a strong red color (Hawly in Gladwin & others, 1965;282-289) Perhaps adding other ores produced other colors when burned. A copper ore was likely added to the ones that produced the green glaze. Palettes may have been used for a variety of things, they have been called receptacles, trays, snuff trays, tablets, plaques, lapstones, paint slabs, and even game boards.
