 |
the
shape is best described as flat ovoid, with flaring opening, and
outstretching lip;
|
|
diameters
(external = 410 mm; internal at opening = 340-345 mm) are not
constant, indicating that the pot was hand-modeled, eventually with
the assistance of a low-kinetic turning device; |
|
the
vessel profile shows a marked and thick lip, about 34 mm large and
15 mm thick; |
|
the
maximal thickness is located at the lip; the bottom is, on the
contrary, astonishingly thin with less than 10 mm; |
|
the
height of the vessel is about 230 mm; |
|
clear
remains of carbonization are visible on the outer surface, which
indicates that the vessel was used for cooking purposes; |
|
the
clay has turned brown-reddish in color through an oxidizing burning
atmosphere;
|
|
the
temper added to the clay is made of very fine sand with high
feldspathic content, which gives the ware a superficial glittering
aspect.
|
Fig.
49
Pottery
Type 2
We
recovered a second type of vessel fragments from within the chamber fill,
and some partial reconstructions could be achieved during the campaign.
The type 2 is morphologically globular with a closed neck and an obliquely
outstretched lip. It is best compared to a classical S-shaped vessel,
although the lip is clearly separated from the neck by a marked knick. The
material used to fabricate this type of vessel seems to show less firing
and weathering qualities than for type 1 pottery, since the inner and
outer surfaces of the fragments are mostly rough. The same adjunction of
feldspath sand is visible in the paste, but crystalline sand was also
mixed to the clay. The color of this earthenware is light beige-gray to
light brown. Type 2 pottery shards only rarely wear external traces of
carbonization.
The
main differences between pottery types 1 and 2 remain in the shape, the
paste quality, and the size, type 2 recipients being smaller in diameter
and proportionally higher. Although no type 2 vessel could be
reconstituted, we estimate that some of the recipients could have a
diameter of 130-160 mm and heights of 150-200 mm. No illustration is
available for this pottery type excepting the following tentative sketch
reconstruction (Fig. 50).
Fig.
50
At
this stage, it is impossible to state the precise number of recipients of
type 2 that were present in the chamber fill. At least it is clear that
most of the shards of type 2 were located in the chamber. No link could be
made between shards from the chamber and from the periphery of the central
platform. From the total number of pottery fragments, type 2 shards
represent about 50% of them.
Pottery
Type 3
Type
3 shards are similar to type 2 in shape. The main difference lies in the
clay and temper types, being cruder in type 3, and in the color of the
ware, which is dark brown to dark gray. This pottery type only rarely wear
external traces of carbonization Type 3 fragments represent about 1/3 of
the total number of pottery shards.
Pottery
Type 4
Type
4 fragments were mostly found around, but near, the platform. They are
probably similar to type 2 and 3 in shape and size. The main difference
lies in the external surface finish, which is nicely smoothed with a
glittering aspect due to feldspath admixed to the clay. The ware is almost
black in color. About 20 shards of this type were found in 1999 around the
platform (in squares H/1-2 and H/6).
