ABSTRACTInterlocking scrolls, painted on sherds and vessels from the Hohokam Pioneer period, have been examined with reference to (1) clockwise or counterclockwise orientation and (2) pattern development. The preference for the counterclockwise orientation is substantially more pronounced in the Pioneer period than in the Hohokam Colonial period. Furthermore, banded decorations of interlocking scrolls from the Pioneer period are shown to be precursors to bands from the Colonial period. These observations represent new traits for characterizing ceramic decorations of the Snaketown phase of the Pioneer period. The data presented support the assignment of the Snaketown phase as a distinct phase preceding the Gila Butte phase.