DOI Heft:
Egypt
DOI Artikel:Rzeuska, Teodozja I.: The pottery, 2005
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42091#0193
SAQQARA
EGYPT
vessel made of this clay identified in the
necropolis so far was restricted to closed
forms (jars), stands and miniature vessels.
One of the presently found fragments made
of Mixed clay represents the first known
open form, i.e., Meidum bowl (SQ 1679,
form 184).
Other vessels worth mentioning include
the rim of a rare item — a large bowl (SQ
1661, form 155), wheel-made of Nile Bl,
with both surfaces red-slipped [Fig. 4}■ Only
one other fragment like this has been
recorded so far.14 Another fairly uncommon
form is a small, bent-sided bowl with
grooved inner rim (SQ 1669, form 177, cf.
Fig. 4). Also seldom encountered is the small
bread mould (SQ 1506, 202, cf. Fig. 5) of
Nile B2, quite unusual because wheel-
turned (or overthrown) with cut base. It is
the first of its kind to be found in the
necropolis. The fill also included low
Fig. 7. Bell-sloaped bowl from the bottom of the
fill in the sloping passage
(Drawing E. Klimaszewska-Drabot,
inking M. Orzechowska)
cylindrical stands of Nile Bl with uncoated
surface (SQ 1510, form 220) and a lower rim
that is characteristically scraped [Fig. 6].
Moreover, the fill contained a few miniature
vessels, including pots made of Mixed clay
P.60, and for the first time, a miniature plate
with inside surface red-slipped (SQ 1514,
form 232, cf. Fig. 3). Large platters with
grooved rim were very numerous, as were
bowls and plates, all typical of phase III.
The pottery from the fill, especially beer
jars with ashes or filled with mud, as well as
stoppers, are typical of offering deposits
found in burial shafts.
At the very bottom of the fill a bell-
shaped bowl (SQ 1595, form 141) was
found; it was wheel-thrown of Nile Bl, red
slipped with inner surface secondarily
white-coated [Fig. 7]. Vessels of this type
were intended for cult practices, hence they
are usually found inside chapels or in their
nearest vicinity. The ceramics from the very
bottom of the fill must have come from
some cult chapel(s), while those from the
upper parts came from burial shafts where
offering deposits were placed ritually .
The fill of phase III is very homogeneous
and has parallels among pottery coming
from funerary complexes dating to this
phase. So far it has proved hard to identify
the complex or complexes from which this
pottery could have come.
In conclusion, the pottery discovered in
2005 has added to the local typology of ves-
sels from both the Late Period and late Old
Kingdom necropoleis. The first group, not
very numerous, contained Egyptian pottery
typical of Saqqara in the Late Period and
numerous fragments of as yet unidentified
imported amphorae. As for the late Old
Kingdom pottery, it represented mostly
phases III and IV, contributing to our
knowledge of typical forms in these phases.
14 T. I. Rzeuska, "West Saqqara 2000. The pottery", PAM XII. Reports 2000 (2001), 141-142, Ftg. 3; T.I. Rajuska, Saqqara II, cat. 503.
189
EGYPT
vessel made of this clay identified in the
necropolis so far was restricted to closed
forms (jars), stands and miniature vessels.
One of the presently found fragments made
of Mixed clay represents the first known
open form, i.e., Meidum bowl (SQ 1679,
form 184).
Other vessels worth mentioning include
the rim of a rare item — a large bowl (SQ
1661, form 155), wheel-made of Nile Bl,
with both surfaces red-slipped [Fig. 4}■ Only
one other fragment like this has been
recorded so far.14 Another fairly uncommon
form is a small, bent-sided bowl with
grooved inner rim (SQ 1669, form 177, cf.
Fig. 4). Also seldom encountered is the small
bread mould (SQ 1506, 202, cf. Fig. 5) of
Nile B2, quite unusual because wheel-
turned (or overthrown) with cut base. It is
the first of its kind to be found in the
necropolis. The fill also included low
Fig. 7. Bell-sloaped bowl from the bottom of the
fill in the sloping passage
(Drawing E. Klimaszewska-Drabot,
inking M. Orzechowska)
cylindrical stands of Nile Bl with uncoated
surface (SQ 1510, form 220) and a lower rim
that is characteristically scraped [Fig. 6].
Moreover, the fill contained a few miniature
vessels, including pots made of Mixed clay
P.60, and for the first time, a miniature plate
with inside surface red-slipped (SQ 1514,
form 232, cf. Fig. 3). Large platters with
grooved rim were very numerous, as were
bowls and plates, all typical of phase III.
The pottery from the fill, especially beer
jars with ashes or filled with mud, as well as
stoppers, are typical of offering deposits
found in burial shafts.
At the very bottom of the fill a bell-
shaped bowl (SQ 1595, form 141) was
found; it was wheel-thrown of Nile Bl, red
slipped with inner surface secondarily
white-coated [Fig. 7]. Vessels of this type
were intended for cult practices, hence they
are usually found inside chapels or in their
nearest vicinity. The ceramics from the very
bottom of the fill must have come from
some cult chapel(s), while those from the
upper parts came from burial shafts where
offering deposits were placed ritually .
The fill of phase III is very homogeneous
and has parallels among pottery coming
from funerary complexes dating to this
phase. So far it has proved hard to identify
the complex or complexes from which this
pottery could have come.
In conclusion, the pottery discovered in
2005 has added to the local typology of ves-
sels from both the Late Period and late Old
Kingdom necropoleis. The first group, not
very numerous, contained Egyptian pottery
typical of Saqqara in the Late Period and
numerous fragments of as yet unidentified
imported amphorae. As for the late Old
Kingdom pottery, it represented mostly
phases III and IV, contributing to our
knowledge of typical forms in these phases.
14 T. I. Rzeuska, "West Saqqara 2000. The pottery", PAM XII. Reports 2000 (2001), 141-142, Ftg. 3; T.I. Rajuska, Saqqara II, cat. 503.
189