National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

POTTERY FROM CULTURE I, NORTH KURGAN.   I 29

as in fig. 94. A graceful effect is produced by parallel lines occupied with rows of spots, which may either stand alone, as in figs. 95 and 96, or lie between two parallel lines, as in fig. 97. Larger fragments of service vessels show heavy cross-bands which extend over the whole vessel (fig. 98) (cf. plate 26, fig. 2).

(3) Besides these two large and systematically connected groups of patterns, we find in both classes of vessels ornamental details which give evidence of the ability of the painters in the matter of design. Some examples, such as figs. 99-103, will show this. The groups of patterns referred to are distributed in such a way that in both classes of vessels, a and b, the horizontal linear-pattern (Reihenmuster) rules equally. The oblique-band pattern (Bandmuster) on the other hand, was preferred for the large vessel of group b, though there are

examples of more delicate

74   -   76   77   vessels in group a, in which

we find the band pattern.

LOWER STRATA, CULTURE I.

79

In the detailed report of the excavation, reasons were given for referring the deposits of the lower strata to the same culture as that of the middle strata . We will now note some details.

78   In the north digging
specimens of groups a and b occurred in all the strata lying below datum. Indeed, some painted fragments of the same variety as those of the middle layers were noted between — 20 feet 5 inches and — 24 feet 5 inches. Finds of the same significance were made in the west shaft. Here the culture-strata lying below datum are shown by the ceramic finds to be quali-

80   81   tatively similar to the middle strata of the

heart of the hill. In addition, there was observed between — 23 feet 5 inches and — 24 feet the lipped piece of a coarse vessel of whitish-green clay (group b), of the same form as that mentioned above from the west digging (fig. 66). Near it was the lip-piece of delicate whitish-green clay and a red-toned saucer with painting (group a). On the other hand, the finds from the lower galleries of Komorof 's trench can not, as was remarked above, be considered without criticism on account of the isolated occurrence of the gray and red monochrome fragments. There is also to be remembered the painted pottery of the middle strata, with the tent-ornamentation, and the painted specimens of the groups a

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