DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12762#0084
P0RT1
57
Early Minoan) and one crystal bead with geometric incisions. Bones were porti
probably transferred to this trench from the tholos and from the other burials
in pithoi on the plateau, which would account for the pieces of pithos found.
The following is a description of the objects found in Tholos IT, and outside
it in the trenches and separate burials.
A. Clay Objects. clay objects
The whole necropolis produced about a hundred vases and vessels of clay.
Most were in the tholos, but still there were a good many with the burials in
front of it and those on the other plateau. Besides these there were a fair
number of pieces of Middle Minoan pithoi and other vases.
All the clay ware at Porti is of the first Middle Minoan age with the excep-
tion of five or six Early Minoan vases.
The deduction is that the cemetery goes back, indeed, to the end of the
Early Minoan age, but continued to be used, and to a much fuller extent, in the
first Middle Minoan period. It is probable that the tholos was built about the
end of E.M. Ill, but lasted in use to a much later date, and that it was then in
the Middle Minoan period that the other burials in pithoi and small tombs
took place.
1. Early Minoan Vases.
The following six vases (Plate XXXIV) I regard as Early Minoan. All are e.m. Vases
from the tholos except 5692, found under the heap of stones to the south. All
are hand-made.
(1) 5063. An almost globular vessel of dark clay with three pierced lugs
(or rudimentary arched handles) by the rim, round which runs a low flange
for the lid to fit on. It may be classed as a suspension pot. It is not painted,
but is smoke-blackened in irregular blotches. I do not think that this was
intentional but due rather to the smoke in the tholos, for we shall see the same
thing on other objects found there. Height -068 m., greatest diameter -09 m.
(2) 5077. A shallow bowl or dish of dark heavy clay much smoke-
blackened on both surfaces. The outside was carefully polished. Height
•05 m., diameter -14 m.
(3) 5670. A semi-spherical vessel with a flattened base and slightly offset
rim. The clay is coarse and heavy and reddish in colour, and the walls are very
thick. The trough spout is broken off. There are two small handles, vertical
on the left, horizontal on the right. This vessel is also polished and shows
marks of fire. Height -056 m., diameter at brim -115 m.
(4) 5145. A small vessel without a handle, of grey clay polished on the
outside. Height -038 m., diameter -032 m.
(5) 5692. A cylindrical vessel of red heavy clay with a rounded shoulder
narrowing to the mouth. Where the shoulder begins to curve there are three
h
57
Early Minoan) and one crystal bead with geometric incisions. Bones were porti
probably transferred to this trench from the tholos and from the other burials
in pithoi on the plateau, which would account for the pieces of pithos found.
The following is a description of the objects found in Tholos IT, and outside
it in the trenches and separate burials.
A. Clay Objects. clay objects
The whole necropolis produced about a hundred vases and vessels of clay.
Most were in the tholos, but still there were a good many with the burials in
front of it and those on the other plateau. Besides these there were a fair
number of pieces of Middle Minoan pithoi and other vases.
All the clay ware at Porti is of the first Middle Minoan age with the excep-
tion of five or six Early Minoan vases.
The deduction is that the cemetery goes back, indeed, to the end of the
Early Minoan age, but continued to be used, and to a much fuller extent, in the
first Middle Minoan period. It is probable that the tholos was built about the
end of E.M. Ill, but lasted in use to a much later date, and that it was then in
the Middle Minoan period that the other burials in pithoi and small tombs
took place.
1. Early Minoan Vases.
The following six vases (Plate XXXIV) I regard as Early Minoan. All are e.m. Vases
from the tholos except 5692, found under the heap of stones to the south. All
are hand-made.
(1) 5063. An almost globular vessel of dark clay with three pierced lugs
(or rudimentary arched handles) by the rim, round which runs a low flange
for the lid to fit on. It may be classed as a suspension pot. It is not painted,
but is smoke-blackened in irregular blotches. I do not think that this was
intentional but due rather to the smoke in the tholos, for we shall see the same
thing on other objects found there. Height -068 m., greatest diameter -09 m.
(2) 5077. A shallow bowl or dish of dark heavy clay much smoke-
blackened on both surfaces. The outside was carefully polished. Height
•05 m., diameter -14 m.
(3) 5670. A semi-spherical vessel with a flattened base and slightly offset
rim. The clay is coarse and heavy and reddish in colour, and the walls are very
thick. The trough spout is broken off. There are two small handles, vertical
on the left, horizontal on the right. This vessel is also polished and shows
marks of fire. Height -056 m., diameter at brim -115 m.
(4) 5145. A small vessel without a handle, of grey clay polished on the
outside. Height -038 m., diameter -032 m.
(5) 5692. A cylindrical vessel of red heavy clay with a rounded shoulder
narrowing to the mouth. Where the shoulder begins to curve there are three
h