Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

TELL EL-LARKHA

EGYPT

APPENDIX A
THE POTTERY, 2001
POTTERY FROM THE CENTRAL KOM (PHASES 4 AND 5)

The most commonly represented pottery
in these phases is rough ware, subdivided
on the basis of its fabric into rough coarse
ware (Rl) and rough ware (R2). In the later
occupation levels of these phases, R2-ware
occurs more frequently than Rl-ware,
whilst in earlier contexts this situation is
reversed. Among vessels belonging to this
category, relatively shallow bread moulds
with a characteristically rounded base are
prevalent. Their rims are usually rounded,
though examples with flat or slightly
concave rims are also present. Among the
pottery vessels with fewer organic and
mineral inclusions, the most common are
jars with variously distinct neck, externally
thickened or slightly turned out rims,
slightly convex sides and a narrow, flat or
irregular base. Holemouth jars are also
present. Of the bowls made using the same
technique the most frequently represented
are those with straight or concave sides
with straight or externally thickened rims.
Another example of rough ware found at
Tell el-Farkha are the small jars, which are
characteristic of the Naqada III period.
Other than rough ware, the Tell el-
Farkha pottery finds also include large
quantities of red slip ware. The ceramic
body used in the production of vessels
covered in red slip contains a temper of
fine- or medium-grained sand and finely
chopped straw (Viennese System category:
N I.B). The red slip ware class of pottery
primarily comprises bowls and only
occasionally jugs with their outer surface
covered in red slip. Of the red slip ware
bowls the most numerous group is
■represented by simple, moderately deep or
deep, rounded vessels with straight rims

(the biggest diameter is either just below
the rim or halfway up the vessel) and by
simple, open, rounded or shallow bowls of
various sizes, with straight rims. The outer
and inner surface of these sorts of bowls is
covered with red slip and bears traces of
smoothing with a hard implement. On the
outer surface, these burnishing traces
usually run horizontally, whilst the inner
surface of the vessel is either burnished
horizontally like the outer surface or
divided into a horizontally burnished rim
edge and a vertically smoothed body.
Also present are bowls which are only
partially covered with slip, up to a half or
a third of their height. This partial
covering of slip was applied primarily to
the bowl's outer surface, the inner surface
being entirely covered.
The characteristic decorative motif
which appears on P-ware dating from
phases 4 and 5 is known as punctated
decoration. This is sometimes associated
with incised lines characteristic of the Pre-
Dynastic and Naqada III periods (cf. Figs.
10-11).
Plard-smoothed ware pottery is
represented exclusively by various sizes of
jars. The ceramic body used in the
production of S-ware jars was of very good
quality. Other than alluvial Nile clay, it
also contained temper of fine sand and,
occasionally, finely chopped straw (N I.B).
Among the S-ware ceramics, it is also
possible to distinguish pottery made of
marl clay tempered with very fine sand
(fabric category M I).
S-ware pottery is also associated with
characteristic forms of decoration. The
most common motif, which appears on

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