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0489 Innermost Asia : vol.2
Innermost Asia : vol.2 / Page 489 (Grayscale High Resolution Image)

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doi: 10.20676/00000187
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957

SECTION III.-LIST OF OBJECTS FOUND AT SITES OF THE SOUTHERN
HELMAND DELTA

GENERAL

NOTE ON SPECIMENS OF POTTERY, PREHISTORIC AND LATER, FROM SITES OF SISTAN AND NEIGHBOURING PARTS

BY

ANDREWS, O.B.E:

when the base extends from one boundary line to the other and the apex falls between (Md. (R.R.) r. on ; III. 018, Pl. CXIII.

iv. Lozenge, square, and rectangle (K.G. 0131 ; Md. II.

03, 8 ; R.R. III. 03 ; XVIII. 04 ; S.S. 09, 148, Pl. CXIII ; Md. (R.R.) II. 021 ; S.S. o6, Pl. CXIV).

B. Curved Lines. i. Semicircles, arranged in zones, the diameter formed by the upper and lower boundary lines alternately (R.R. ix. 02 ; S.S. 024, Pl. CXIII ; S.S. 02, Pl. CxIV).

  1. Narrow leaf, rather like a willow-leaf, always placed in chevron order, bases and tips alternately touching. Probably derived from interlacing reversed semicircles (R.R. in. 05 ; Ix. 02, Pl. CXIII).

  2. Broad leaf, a variation of above. The full leaf always used vertically ; singly between boundary lines, with sometimes half leaves placed horizontally, the mid-rib coinciding with boundary lines, and in pairs, one against upper boundary and one against lower (Md. (R.R.) n. o18 ; in. 04, Pl. CXIII).

  3. Festoons. These are usually formed by pairs of lines which form quasi-crescent curves, sometimes looping downwards (K.G. 047 ; Md. (R.R.) u. o13; R.R. XVII. ox, PI. CXIII; K.G. 0137, PI. CXIV), at others arching upwards (Md. (R.R.) u. 040, PI. CXIII). A kind of fringe of short lines springs from the outer side of one or both lines. In other examples the space between the lines is hatched.

  4. S-shaped curves occur on a few fragments. The S may be turned to right or left, and is rather elongated. A band of zigzag runs across each loop, and in one example (R.R. VIII. 012, Pl. CXIII) the space thus enclosed in each end is cross-hatched. This pattern is placed arbitrarily at any angle and apparently singly (K.G. ox, Pl. CXIV).

  5. Scrolls. Freely growing scrolls are rare, but one fragment shows a group of three bold vertical lines, with flattened scrolls right and left and with secondary scrolls growing out of these. At the junctions of scrolls are always two short projecting spines, like rootlets on an ivy stem (S.S.

04, Pl. CXIII). Another example shows a voluted scroll with fringe on upper side of outer curve (Md. (R.R.) n. 02, Pl. CXIV). Two fragments have roughly drawn small scrolls suggesting a small plant, or grass (K.G. 058, PI. CXIII ; K.G. (no, Pl. CXIV).

vii. Meandering leaf. There is a very highly developed meandering leaf pattern which runs in regular curves round the body of a vessel, the mid-rib being raised in a keel-shaped ridge, and painted with a broad solid band of black. Serrated leaf edges are boldly painted in the hollows, and the ground

6G

F. H.

Prehistoric Pottery.

The pottery fragments found at sites of Sistàn and neighbouring parts of Khorâsan may be divided into two main sections : prehistoric and later. The prehistoric fragments may be conveniently grouped into three classes determined by the material of the body : buff, red, and grey. Each class shows varieties in tone, due mainly to irregular firing, as follows : I. Buff : Warm pale pinkish (K.G. 0131, Pl. CXIII) ; dark pinkish (R.R. vIII. on, Pl. CXIII) ; light greenish (R.R. m. 05, Pl. CXIII) ; dark'greenish (K.G. 09, Pl. CXIV) ; nearly black. u. Red : Pale terra-cotta (Machi. oxo-Ir, PI. CXIII) ; darker terra-cotta (S.S. 0119, Pl. CXIII ; S.S. 02, Pl. CXIV ) ; grey with red surface ; dark grey. III. Grey ; dark putty colour (K.G. 039 ; R.R. ni. 018 ; S.S. 0107, Pl. CXIII) ; dark dove (S.S. 03, 74, Pl. CXIII) ; nearly black (R.R. XVII. o8, Pl. CXIII).

Most of the pottery is painted, and that which is not has in some cases probably lost it through weathering. The majority of the painting is in black of varying degrees of density, and generally the paint has a slight glaze. In a few specimens the pattern is in brown or brown-black. The patterns are mostly geometrical, but a few have a freer character. The following is a general classification of the ornamental motifs :

A. Straight Lines. i. Simple ; horizontal, as for encircling rings used to cover lip and to form the upper and lower boundaries of zones (K.G. o11, 39, 55, 58, 135 ; Machi. oI0-I I, 5 ; Md. (R.R.) u. 07, 13, 18, 4o ; in. 04 ; III.03, 5, I I, 18 ; viii. OI I ; IX. 02 ; XVII. OI, 5, 8 ; S.S. oI, 3, 15, 24, 74, 107, Pl. CXIII ; K.G. oI, 8-Io, 127, 137 ; Md. (R.R.) II. 02, 21 ; III. OI ; III. 010, 13 ; S.S. 02, 5, IoI, 105, Pl. CXIV). Upright, as used in dividing zones into panels (R.R. XVII. o8 ; S.S. 04, 51, Pl. CXIII ; K.G. o8 ; Md. III. ox ; S.S. oxor, Pl. CXIv), and used in groups for the triglyph' motif (R.R. III. oI I ; XVII. OI, Pl. CXIII).

  1. Zigzag or chevron used horizontally (K.G. 039 ; R.R. Ix. ox ; S.S. 0I19, Pl. CXIII ; K.G. ox27, R.R. nI. 013 ; S.S. 02, 66, Pl. CXIV ), vertically (R.R. xiii. 018 ; S.S. 05o, 51, 85, Pl. CXIII ; Md. (R.R.) rr. 021 ; R.R. III. oxo ; S.S. o14, Pl. CXIV) and rarely, obliquely (K.G. 0132 ; Md. (R.R.) u. 07 ; R.R. VIII. out ; S.S. oI, 15, 26, Pl. CXIII ; K.G. 09, Pl. CxIV) ; generally in groups.

  2. Triangle, used in horizontal series forming zones, when the base is formed by one of the boundary lines (R.R. XVII. o8 ; S.S. 03, 74, 119, Pl. CXIII), or tilted obliquely II