The existence of prehistoric pottery shards paints a clear picture of ancient artisanal practices while highlighting ancestral clumsiness. Leave behind traces of your own civilization with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $46 worth of studio fees and pottery at Pots and Palettes in Fredericksburg.

At Pots and Palettes, more than 500 different pieces of pottery await the bristled kiss of a brush and the color-sealing heat of a kiln. After paying a two-hour studio fee ($6/person) that covers all fees except the cost of the pottery, guests may browse the bisque pieces until they find one that calls to them, such as a plate ($10+), mug ($15+), or magnet ($5). Staff members can guide visitors through the process of selecting their rigid canvas and provide color suggestions and tips on painting techniques throughout the session. Once a piece bears the artist's signature, employees clean the workstation and take the newly minted work to be fired in one of the studio's kilns. The studio calls when the customer’s piece is ready, typically 5–7 days later, as long as impatient archaeologists don't raid the kilns.