Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (5.1993(1994))

A particularly important discovery for studies of Athribian
pottery workshops is a large, well preserved pottery kiln. It is built
of red bricks and has a circular shape. It is divided into eight
lateral chambers around a central orifice in the top of the vault
which in turn is made of four courses of bricks with a diameter
progressively larger toward the bottom. An air hole has been
identified on the northern side of the kiln. Inside there were many
sherds of large brown amphorae. The bottom parts of some
amphorae were found standing in the lateral chambers, the size of
which fitted precisely the dimensions of the vessels. Although
fragments of other pots, as well as complete jugs and plates were
also found inside the kiln, it seems likely that amphorae constituted
the most important product fired in it. Both the stratigraphy of the
kiln and the presence of a well preserved coin of Ptolemy V in the
fill above the amphorae (terminus ante queni) indicate that the kiln
was used in the second half of the 3r<^ century B.C.
Several deposits of pottery were found in various parts of
the Ptolemaic quarter. Of particular interest is the deposit dis-
covered in the early Ptolemaic stratum in the eastern part of square
JJJ where about 30 intentionally bottomless bowls were set one
inside the other, beside a large cylindrical vessel stand. The
function of these vessels remains an open question. They seem to
have been intended as a not very tight ventilation shaft or each
separately constituted air or light apertures for some interior.
Beside prolific ceramic material of local origin, many fragments of
imported pottery came to light. There are parts of large amphorae,
often with stamped handles, as well as late Ptolemaic/early Roman
Terra Sigillata (with some stamped patterns never recorded before)
and black glazed pottery with painted or stamped decoration.

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