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Chapter 3, part 3. (p.251)
2. The ceramics of the 2nd layer
In
the oldest ceramics, ornamentation is limited to a series of simple,
geometric motifs that can appear individually or in a row. There can be
no question of an ornamental system. Admittedly, our observations here
are also deficient, since we are almost entirely dependent on the shell
fragments. As far as the technique is concerned, a simple stick of wood
or bone was used and limited to a linear decoration; only occasionally
are deepened points found. The indentations are usually filled with a
white paste..
Fig.118: Linear incised motifs on Layer 1 pottery.
In
the case of the bowl type A, the ornament is usually applied to the
inner, broad rim; only rarely does it spread to the shell. In type b
ornaments are altogether rarer and cover the outer edge. The motifs
(cf. fig.118) are as follows: groups of parallel lines, placed radially
next to each other or in zigzags; simple zigzag line ; (p.252) simple
wavy line ; chevron pattern ; diamonds lined up next to each other with
and without line filling; grid pattern ; Triangles with parallel lines.
More complicated is a zigzag band, the outer corners of which are
hatched. A crude swastika occurs on a very reliable fragment of type A.
Peculiar are allusions to human faces, of which the eyes and nose or
only the eyes are shown (fig.120b; cf. Ilios p.281, No.100; Troy p.36 No. 1.2.= Schuchardt fig.23. 22).
Fig.120b: Incised face motif in Layer 1 pottery (after Ilios, p.281, no.100)
Finally,
a few fragments that were found among Schliemann's sherds should be
mentioned here. They are distinguished by traces of painted ornaments.
However, the actual mass of paint has chipped off; but the lines of the
ornaments can be clearly recognized by a lighter tint of the surface.
One can therefore assume that the color was originally white or at
least light. If you look carefully with a magnifying glass, you can
still see remnants of the fairly thickly applied paint here and there.
Olshausen, who was kind enough to examine them, considers that an ash preparation was used.
In
any case, the fragments are important; they show that painting was also
combined with monochrome technology, in which deep ornamentation is the
norm. There can be no doubt as to whether the pieces belong to the
oldest pottery: one piece (Figure 119) is a bowl rim of type A, and
this is precisely what no longer occurs later; the angular patterns
pushed into each other can also be classified well in the simple motifs
of the oldest pottery. The zigzag lines that regularly intersect at the
angles and that can be found on a fragment of a jug (Figure 120)
testify to the great certainty of the drawing.
Fig.119: angular patterns on bowl of type A, from Layer I.
Fig.120: Intersecting zigzag lines incised on jug from Layer I.
[Continue to Chapter 3, part 3]
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