Hellenistic Pottery Research Articles

Hellenistic Painted Ceramics from Olbia

The article is devoted to the publication of a small collection of Hellenistic painted pottery from Olbia. The studying of certain categories of archaeological material provides an opportunity to explore in detail the various aspects of their characteristics and to outline issues related primarily to its origin. Among the promising vectors of the study of Olbian ceramic complex are finds of the Hellenistic period and isolation of some series of imported pottery of the Black Sea North region production. One of the representative collections of Hellenistic pottery from Olbia is stored in the Scientific Repository of the Institute of Archaeology of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. It is represented by materials of excavations of the second half of the 20th century. First of all, the so-called red clay painted pottery is very interesting, the origin of which is still debated in historiography. Among the items selected for the study, table jugs predominate, which are represented by a fairly wide range of variations of profile parts and ornamental compositions. The decorations are the following: encircling lines, plant motifs or a combination of them; the painting is done mainly with dark red paint. The collection also includes fragments of ceramic flasks, which are rare forms of ware in the Black Sea North region and were used as small containers. Profile parts of vessels are described separately. The article also contains the description of the morphology of different types of jugs and their capacity. Particular attention is paid to the origin of Hellenistic ceramics. It has been found that such pottery was probably made in Tauric Chersonesos. Despite the need of chemical and technical analyses of the clay composition and clarification of the raw materials origin, it should be noted that such indicators as mass character, typological similarity and the presence of these products in situ in the places of pottery production are quite convincing factors in the process of their attribution. Its availability in the ceramic complex of Olbia testifies to the existence of interpoleis contacts in the Black Sea North region, in particular to certain connections of this centre with Taurica in the 4th – 2nd centuries BC, which has already been recorded archaeologically on the amphorae materials. Therefore, a representative collection of Hellenistic pottery from the excavations at Olbia supplemented new information about the life of the polis during its active development.

Ενσφράγιστες λαβές αμφορέων από το Σφακάκι και την Ελεύθερνα Ρεθύμνου

Given that excavations at the prefecture of Rethymno during the last decades have brought to light several assemblages of Hellenistic pottery, however, stamped amphora handles remain a rare find. Two such handles have been found during the excavation of a Hellenistic building at Sfakaki, Rethymnon prefecture, while another one was discovered at “House B” of the Nisi site in Eleutherna. Thetwo handles from Sfakaki reveal contacts with the north Aegean and north-west Asia Minor areas. As for the first among them, the morphological features of its shape indicate a probable provenance from Samothrace and its dating in the second half of the 4th century B.C. The second bears the name ΑΛΚΑΝΟΡΟΣ in the stamp, which includes it in a known group of similarly stamped handles, dated in thethird quarter or in the middle of the 3rd century B.C. and probably produced in Troia. The handle from Eleutherna is likely to have a provenance from Kos, and is dated in the second quarter of the 2nd century B.C.

Ceramic technology: how to characterise black Fe-based glass-ceramic coatings

The study of the ancient black ceramic coating that decorates the surface of Classical and Hellenistic pottery from Attica and other main production centres in the Mediterranean has been the subject of more than three centuries of research. The physicochemical characterisation and analysis of the black glaze/gloss (BG) with the use of a broad spectrum of analytical techniques has gradually revealed its nature as an iron-based glass-ceramic material. At its best, it is coloured by polycrystalline nanoparticles of magnetite or mixed magnetite/hercynite spinels, dispersed in the amorphous K-aluminosilicate phase doped by Fe2+/Fe3+. We discuss the technique to produce the BGc (black glass-ceramic, hereafter), known as the “iron reduction technique”, with emphasis on the 3-stage firing under oxidising-reducing-oxidising (ORO) conditions as well as the latest analytical results through XPS, high-resolution TEM, SR-micro XRD and XANES. The discussion is based on data and research experience accumulated over the years from the application of conventional techniques (such as SEM-EDS and hhXRF) on ancient samples, laboratory reproductions and contemporary full-scale reproduction of similar artefacts. We show that the parameters affecting the quality of the BGc (sheen, colour, micromorphology) depend on the nature of the clay-slip, the application process, the ORO firing scheme and weathering mechanisms due to burial in humid terrestrial or marine environment. The proposed analytical protocol for the routine characterisation of the micromorphology and the analysis of the BGc and the ceramic body involves the use of non-destructive or minutely destructive techniques with special emphasis on the pottery sample classification and documentation.

Applying SEM-Cathodoluminescence imaging and spectroscopy as an advanced research tool for the characterization of archaeological material

The present work focuses on the application of Cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy for the analysis of different types of archaeological materials and Cultural Heritage artefacts, namely pottery, glass and paintings, and highlights the significant potential presented by this technique.More specifically, in the case of Hellenistic pottery there is evidence that CL panchromatic images can be used to differentiate between glazes of different quality, even when their chemical composition does not present any significant differences. Additionally, archaeological samples could be differentiated based on CL images from chemically and technologically identical authentic replicas.In the case of Classical and Hellenistic glass samples it was shown that the peak positions in the CL spectra vary depending on the sample provenance; however, for statistical relevance a larger number of glass samples from different locations need to be studied to build a reliable provenance database.Finally, preliminary results on the study of paintings demonstrate that the combination of Electron Microscopy with Cathodoluminescence can serve as a powerful tool for the study of production technology, as well as the identification of individual pigments.

Susan I. Rotroff. The Athenian Agora XXXIII: Hellenistic Pottery, the Plain Wares. pp. 480, with 98 ills and 90 plates. 2006. Princeton NJ: American School of Classical Studies at Athens. ISBN 978-0-87661-233-0, hardback $150.

Rotroff’s Hellenistic Pottery, the Plain Wares is one of the key Hellenistic Pottery publications available to specialists in the field. The publication, by now more than a decade old, is still a shining example of the ideal pottery publication. It combines a rigorous, exhaustive and authoritative presentation and discussion of ceramic data with substantial contextual analysis. The lavishly illustrated volume joins its sister volumes, Agora XXIX and XXII, in providing a complete picture of the Hellenistic period pottery attested at the Athenian Agora.

Sarah James. Hellenistic Pottery: The Fine Wares. Corinth VII.7. pp. 360, with 45 ills, 44 plates, 3 plans, 3 tables. 2018. Princeton NJ: American School of Classical Studies at Athens. ISBN 978-0-87661-077-0, hardcover £150.

The latest edition in the Corinth volumes, Hellenistic Pottery: The Fine Wares by Sarah James, is the seventh instalment of the pottery volumes, initiated by Saul Weinberg in 1943. It provides a much-needed extension and revision of the chronology of Hellenistic pottery posited in Roger Edwards’ book Corinthian Hellenistic Pottery, which was published as the third volume in this series in 1975.

Shelley C. Stone: The Hellenistic and Roman Fine Pottery.

Shelley C. Stone: The Hellenistic and Roman Fine Pottery.

Corinth, 2018: Northeast of the Theater

The 2018 excavations at ancient Corinth opened up a new area of exploration northeast of the ancient theater. Part of a major east–west road dating from the 3rd to the 5th or 6th century A.D. was revealed. South of the road were remains of a substantial Roman building, the walls of which were extensively plundered in the 6th century or later, although portions of three rooms provide evidence of elaborate pavements that appear to be Early Roman. A few lower strata with predominantly Hellenistic pottery and mixed fills with redeposited Archaic and Classical sherds suggest that the area may provide an opportunity to explore undisturbed earlier contexts in the future.

Book Review of Hellenistic Pottery: The Fine Wares, by Sarah A. James

Book Review of Hellenistic Pottery: The Fine Wares, by Sarah A. James

Contribution of mineralogical and analytical techniques to investigate provenance and technologies of Hellenistic pottery from Arpi (Southern Italy)

Contribution of mineralogical and analytical techniques to investigate provenance and technologies of Hellenistic pottery from Arpi (Southern Italy)

An integrated typological, technological and provenance investigation of Late Hellenistic colour-coated pottery from Nea Paphos, Cyprus

The current paper contributes new evidence to the ongoing discussion of the location and organisation of production of Hellenistic colour-coated ware (CCW), through interdisciplinary investigation of morphological style, technology and provenance of relevant pottery from a Late Hellenistic deposit found in a well in the Agora of Nea Paphos on Cyprus. Through naked eye examination, four major macroscopic groups were identified based on vessel typology and fabrics. Subsequently, 53 representative samples were selected and analysed through a combination of refiring tests, chemical analysis, thin section petrography and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the sheer majority of this pottery, despite some compositional and technological variability, reflects the use of similar raw materials compatible with the geology of Paphos. Therefore, during the Late Hellenistic period, most of the CCW consumed in Paphos were locally produced. The observed variation in the assemblage can be associated with several factors, such as natural diversity of raw materials, a number of co-existing pottery workshops, technological choices made by the potters and to a lesser extent post-depositional processes. This integrated research has a profound impact on studies of production and consumption of the Late Hellenistic pottery on Cyprus.

A Group of Hellenistic Pottery from the Archaeological Museum of Akhisar

Thyateria antik kentinin mirasçısı olan Akhisar’da 1932 yılında inşa edilmiş olan ve bir kısmı öğretmen evi olarak kullanılan iki katlı bir binanın restore edilerek 2012 yılında müze olarak ziyarete açılmasıyla o güne değin Manisa Arkeoloji Müzesi’nde korunan bir grup eser Akhisar Arkeoloji Müzesi’nde sergilenmeye başlamıştır. Bu eserler içerisinde Hellenistik Dönem’e ait bir grup seramik de yer almaktadır. Bu çalışma kapsamında Akhisar Arkeoloji Müzesi’nde sergilenmekte olan bu seramikler formlarına ve gruplarına göre incelenmiş, her ne kadar buluntu yerleri ile ilgili detaylı bilgi olmasa da bazılarının üretim merkezleriyle ilgili öneriler getirilmeye çalışılmıştır. Müzedeki çalışmalarımız sonucunda saptanan Hellenistik Seramik grupları arasında siyah firnisli seramik, batı yamacı, kalıp yapımı kaseler ve lagynoslar yer almaktadır.

Sinop Kale Excavations 2017: Hellenistic fortifications and handmade pottery

Sinop Kale Excavations 2017: Hellenistic fortifications and handmade pottery

ORACLES ON FAULTS: A PROBABLE LOCATION OF A “LOST” ORACLE OF APOLLO NEAR OROVIAI (NORTHERN EUBOEA ISLAND, GREECE) VIEWED IN ITS GEOLOGICAL AND GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CONTEXT

At a newly discovered archaeological site at Aghios Taxiarches in Northern Euboea, two votive inscribed stelae were found in 2001 together with hellenistic pottery next to ancient wall ruins on a steep and high rocky slope. Based on the inscriptions and the geographical location of the site we propose the hypothesis that this is quite probably the spot where the oracle of “Apollo Selinountios” (mentioned by Strabo) would stand in antiquity. The wall ruins of the site are found on a very steep bedrock escarpment of an active fault zone, next to a hanging valley, a high waterfall and a cave. The geomorphological and geological environment of the site is linked directly to the regional geodynamical context of Central Greece, a region of tectonic turmoil throughout the Pleistocene and Holocene, characterised by distinct landscapes produced by the activity of active fault zones, intense seismicity, and in part, volcanism and hydrothermal activity. The geomorphological and geological similarities of the Ag. Taxiarches site with those of the oracle at Delphi, seem to provide further support to the hypothesis that the former site can well be that of an ancient oracle, given the recently established connections between the geological environment at Delphi and Apollo’s oracle there. Definitive verification of our hypothesis can only be obtained by further, detailed archaeological study, whereas geological/geomorphological, geochemical, and geochronological studies would be necessary to clarify the connection that the cave lying next to the wall remains may had with the site’s function.

Distinctive Volcanic Material for the Production of Campana A Ware: The Workshop Area of Neapolis at the Duomo Metro Station in Naples, Italy

Recent transportation infrastructure works in Naples, Italy, provided important discoveries related to the production of pottery in the Hellenistic workshop area of Piazza Nicola Amore. A minero‐petrographic investigation was conducted on 35 samples belonging to the widespread Campana A ware and production indicators (clayey raw materials, unfired Graeco‐Italic amphorae, kiln wastes, workshop tools). Additional analysis was conducted on black‐glaze and common ware samples for comparison. The analyses reveal compositional and technological homogeneity of Campana A ware. Samples are characterized by low CaO content with evidence of both volcanic and sedimentary components, suggesting that different clay sources were properly mixed to prepare a standard recipe. Production indicators, black‐glaze and common wares, have a composition well consistent with the calcareous clays from the island of Ischia. Leucite‐ and garnet‐bearing temper from the Somma Volcano were used for the preparation of coarse‐grained pastes, unfired Graeco‐Italic amphorae, and clayey raw materials, thus suggesting that they represented the clay sources for amphorae production. Our results reveal new technological and socioeconomic aspects of Hellenistic pottery production in the Bay of Naples, in particular for the Campana A ware, now representing a new reference group: Neapolis.

Maja Miše. Gnathia and Related Hellenistic Ware on the East Adriatic Coast

Maja Miše’s book Gnahia and Related Ware on the East Adriatic Coast is a timely addition to the field of Hellenistic pottery studies and an excellent overview of the regional occurrence of this well-known ware. M. presents in her book a thorough examination of the occurrence of Gnathia pottery in the East Adriatic and particularly focusses on defining the local Issaean production of this ware. The occurrence of Gnathia pottery in the East Adriatic is contrasted by M. with the production of the Ware in Southern Italy (the Ware’s area of inception), for which she devises a typological and developmental framework, sheds new light not only on the development of Gnathia pottery in Southern Italy but also across the Adriatic. M’s book is therefore an excellent overview of Gnathia pottery, its origin and development, distribution in southern Italy and in the Adriatic and attempts to view the occurrence of this important ware within a wider socio-economic context.

The Late 4th/3rd Century BCE Transition in the Judean Hinterland in Light of the Pottery of Khirbet Qeiyafa

Until recently, distinguishing between Late Persian and Early Hellenistic pottery assemblages in the Shephelah and the Hill Country of Judea was imprecise and somewhat elusive. Based on new numismatic data, two phases of Stratum III at Khirbet Qeiyafa can now be securely dated to this time span. Analysis of the respective pottery assemblages allows us for the first time to propose a clear distinction between the pottery of these two periods. Accordingly, a new dating for several sites in the Shephelah and the Hill Country is suggested.

KARATAŞ BURNU YÜZEY ARAŞTIRMASINDA BULUNAN HELLENİSTİK VE ROMA DÖNEMİ KERAMİKLERİ

The present article deals with the Hellenistic and Roman pottery collected during the Karatas-Survey in 2007 at the site of the orthogonal settlement. Since the discovery of ruins in 1811 by F. Beaufort at Cape Karatas (Adana Provin­ce, Eastern Cilicia), scholars have discussed whether they belonged to Mallos or to its port and sanctuary Magarsos. Today it is usually agreed that the settlement encircled with fortifications on Cape Karatas belong to Magarsos. The earliest examples of Hellenistic fine ceramics from Karatas are the black-glazed pottery dating to the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century BC. The sherds, which can be compared with material from the deposits of Syrio-Palestinian sites (3rd-1st centuries BC), comprises mainly Hellenistic Colour-Coated pottery. Hellenistic and Roman Eastern Sigillata A (ESA) forms are also documented. The latest examples of Roman Period are Eastern Sigillata B (ESB) dating to the 2nd-3rd centuries AD. The coarse pottery assemblage comprises mainly storage, transport and kitchen vessels with light coloured fabric and displays a variety of forms including craters, mortaria, amphorae, and cooking vessels. The earliest examples can be compared with the ceramics of the 3rd century BC from different deposits in Syrio-Palestinian and Cypriot sites. A cooking pot (lopas), is the latest datable sherd among the coarse wares. Typological analogies with the findings from Tarsus and Knossos allow us to classify this type to Middle Ro­man Period.

Excavations at Caesarea Maritima and the Vardaman Papers

In 1962, Michael Avi-Yonah of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem returned to his excavation of the synagogue site at Caesarea Maritima. His assistant, Avraham Negev, directed the excavation of four small areas east of the synagogue site and was assisted by E. Jerry Vardaman, formerly of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and later of Mississippi State University. A brief report listed the findings of two domestic structures, mosaic pavements, burials, two fragments of the Twenty-Four Priestly Courses, a “Hellenistic structure,” a fragment of a chancel screen, and baskets of Hellenistic pottery. Recently, Vardaman's notes, sketches, and photographs have become available, and they greatly increase our knowledge of those excavations. This paper presents that additional information and correlates it with the information gained from the 1975–1995 excavations in Field G of the Joint Expedition to Caesarea Maritima, a project of the Drew Institute of Archaeological Research of Drew University, directed by the late Robert J. Bull.

SEM-EDS ANALYSIS AS A RAPID TOOL FOR DISTINGUISHING CAMPANIAN A WARE AND SICILIAN IMITATIONS

The aim of this work is to examine whether it is possible to find chemical markers that allow a distinction to be made between the imported black glossed ‘Campanian A’ and the Sicilian imitation (end of fourth to first century bc) of these productions by carrying out quantitative chemical microanalysis of the slip using the SEM–EDS technique. The efficiency of the proposed analytical method has been tested on a set of ceramic samples corresponding to Sicilian black gloss imitations whose ceramic body has already been characterized petrographically by thin-section microscopy and chemically by XRF. The analytical data point to Na2O as a suitable chemical marker to distinguish between original ‘Campanian A’ imported from the Gulf of Naples area and Sicilian imitations of the same forms of Hellenistic pottery. In order to verify the above result, the enrichment factors (EFs) between the raw clays, the corresponding ceramic body and black gloss slip were calculated. Some differences in the patterns of EFs between original ‘Campanian A’ and Sicilian imitations were recognized and explained. Therefore, the obtained results can help to accomplish a first distinction between imported and local material on a firm analytical basis, working on a statistically significant number of individuals.