DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0042
KOUMASA
15
The other three have no handle. 4180 is small (height -04 m.), of fine tholos b
pure clay, and has a black wash on both surfaces with white vertical bands, clay objects
The shape is conical, and the brim is pinched into a lip. No. 4273 is of white
clay and has two projecting lumps. Height -055 m. No. 4255 has the usual
shape of the numerous handleless cups that are found in abundance in all
Minoan strata. Height *05 m.
Now I found no sign of the use of the potter's wheel on any of the vessels Hand, not Wheel,
described above, although some of the forms are very regular, and many of Made
the vases belong to the end of the Early Minoan period. Through long practice
the skill of the potters had been developed to such a pitch that they were
able to produce these results by the hand alone, though it is of course possible
that they used some contrivance that paved the way to the invention of the
wheel.
Also the firing of these clay vases is well advanced. With the exception Good Baking
perhaps of the two first bucchero examples and the large lids, all those described
are well baked, many of them very well baked. The potter's kiln must have
been used for most of them instead of the open fire, and would therefore seem
to have come into use before the wheel.
As for the chronological order of these vases, the first point is that all of Chronology
them fit very well into the Early Minoan period ; in my opinion they are
representative of all three divisions of that age. For, while the two black vases
(Section A, 1), perhaps also the lids (Section A, 2), and the pyxides may be
put to E.M. I or to the beginning of E.M. II, a fair number more belong to the
middle of E.M. II, especially those with geometric ornament in red or brown,
like the man-shaped vase, 4138, of which we shall see many more from other
spots at Koumasa. Finally, to E.M. Ill belong the many vases with the white
decoration on a black ground.1
B. Stone Objects. stone objects
In the first place I may remark that it is characteristic of the Mesara Quantity and
tombs for the stone vases and vessels to constitute a far more numerous and ImP°rtance of the
important class than those of clay. So it was at Mochlos too. tone °b'ects
Later, when pointing out resemblances between certain Cretan and Egyptian
forms, I shall have occasion to refer to the similar phenomenon in Egypt, the
presence of thousands of stone vases in the tombs of the early dynasties. Note-
worthy, too, for so remote an age is the pitch of development attained by the
stone ware, and not in technical skill only but in artistic feeling.
1. Stone Palettes.
Tholos B produced seven palettes in all, of which the best preserved five Palettes
1 Hall, Early Banted Pottery from Gournia, in Department of Archaeology, vol. I, Part III (1905),
University of Pennsylvania, Transactions of the Plates XXV1I-XXXIII.
15
The other three have no handle. 4180 is small (height -04 m.), of fine tholos b
pure clay, and has a black wash on both surfaces with white vertical bands, clay objects
The shape is conical, and the brim is pinched into a lip. No. 4273 is of white
clay and has two projecting lumps. Height -055 m. No. 4255 has the usual
shape of the numerous handleless cups that are found in abundance in all
Minoan strata. Height *05 m.
Now I found no sign of the use of the potter's wheel on any of the vessels Hand, not Wheel,
described above, although some of the forms are very regular, and many of Made
the vases belong to the end of the Early Minoan period. Through long practice
the skill of the potters had been developed to such a pitch that they were
able to produce these results by the hand alone, though it is of course possible
that they used some contrivance that paved the way to the invention of the
wheel.
Also the firing of these clay vases is well advanced. With the exception Good Baking
perhaps of the two first bucchero examples and the large lids, all those described
are well baked, many of them very well baked. The potter's kiln must have
been used for most of them instead of the open fire, and would therefore seem
to have come into use before the wheel.
As for the chronological order of these vases, the first point is that all of Chronology
them fit very well into the Early Minoan period ; in my opinion they are
representative of all three divisions of that age. For, while the two black vases
(Section A, 1), perhaps also the lids (Section A, 2), and the pyxides may be
put to E.M. I or to the beginning of E.M. II, a fair number more belong to the
middle of E.M. II, especially those with geometric ornament in red or brown,
like the man-shaped vase, 4138, of which we shall see many more from other
spots at Koumasa. Finally, to E.M. Ill belong the many vases with the white
decoration on a black ground.1
B. Stone Objects. stone objects
In the first place I may remark that it is characteristic of the Mesara Quantity and
tombs for the stone vases and vessels to constitute a far more numerous and ImP°rtance of the
important class than those of clay. So it was at Mochlos too. tone °b'ects
Later, when pointing out resemblances between certain Cretan and Egyptian
forms, I shall have occasion to refer to the similar phenomenon in Egypt, the
presence of thousands of stone vases in the tombs of the early dynasties. Note-
worthy, too, for so remote an age is the pitch of development attained by the
stone ware, and not in technical skill only but in artistic feeling.
1. Stone Palettes.
Tholos B produced seven palettes in all, of which the best preserved five Palettes
1 Hall, Early Banted Pottery from Gournia, in Department of Archaeology, vol. I, Part III (1905),
University of Pennsylvania, Transactions of the Plates XXV1I-XXXIII.