Built atop a sheer-walled, 370-foot sandstone bluff in a valley studded with sacred, towering monoliths in New Mexico,
Sky City (Acoma) has remained suspended in time for two millennia. The village is the oldest continuously inhabited community in
North America today, and it is recognized worldwide for its unique art and rich culture. For a thousand years, the people of Aak'u,
which has been translated from Keresan as "mesa top" and also as "a place prepared," have been making pottery--vessels of everyday life,
of ritual, and of great beauty. During the seventeenth century, potters developed the matte-painted polychrome style, which continues today.
Pottery making is learned by children from their parents and grandparents, and is passed on from one generation to the next.
In one family, grandmother, mother, aunt, cousin, and grandchild may all be potters.

Since before 1600, jars for carrying and storing water (duu'ni), have been made at Acoma and decorated with elaborate polychrome geometric,
rainbow, bird, floral, animals and other historic and prehistoric motifs. These patterns are inspired by prehistoric Mimbres designs.
Many anthropologists believe that the Acoma and Laguna people are ancestors of the prehistoric Mimbres people who migrated up from the
Silver City, New Mexico area, hence this group's interest in the Mimbres. Other pottery include pitchers, grain storage jars, dough bowls, seed jars,
serving and food bowls, and canteens. The double-spouted wedding vase form has been popular since the late 1800s. Today, potters also make storytellers,
figural vessels, such as owls,turtles, and frogs, and pots with a twin-headed motif. The figural vessels continue traditions of pottery styles that are a thousand years old.

Some of the world's most recognized Acoma potters come from the Chino, Lewis, Cerno, Garcia, Aragon, Torivio, Antonio, Vallo, Concho, and Sandoval families.