APC Image: AK 1113Middle Helladic black and red monochrome sherds. In fabric the black monochrome ware closely resembles that of Early Helladic Period, but the shapes show less similarity. The sherds vary greatly in color, from gray to deepest black, and a few present a mottled appearance. Noteworthy in some specimens is the extraordinary fine polish. The open bowl continues, but now with more pronounced angular profile. One interesting sherd (top right) is a part of a bowl with inward curving rim. On the shoulder are two parallel incised lines which had a white filling. In their surface finish such sherds as bottom row, second one from the right closely resemble Minyan ware, although its color shades from gray to buff. Certainly the sharp, angular profiles, flat, thin rims, and flat handles give a decidedly metallic effect and are reminiscent of Minyan ware. This is even more true in the case of the red monochrome ware. In some respects the red monochrome ware resembles that of the Early Helladic Period in its fine lustrous finish and its high polish, but when the sherds from the two periods are placed side by side the difference in fabric and finish is easily discernible. Frequently the sherds of this period have a sort of crackled appearance and in the poorer examples the red slip has worn badly. None of the sherds present that vivid red color which enables one to compare the earlier pieces with the best of Northern Greek red neolithic ware. For this period too many of the sherds have a mottled appearance, but red is always the predominating color. Besides the familiar shapes - the open bowl with flat bottom and the bowl with inward curving rim - the stemmed vase is found. None of the fragments found this year have ringed stems, but several plain stems occur. The open bowl with one lug handle is fairly common. The flat, elliptical handle, which was set on horizontally, is pieced with one string hole (seond row, second from left). These string holes were bored by a rotating drill, sometimes worked from both sides of the vase, but more often from one side only. When bored from both sides the hole has a biconical shape. An interesting sherd is on the top row, second from left: the outer surface is covered with a deep creamy mattpaint, the inside with a red slip.
Object Description:   Middle Helladic black and red monochrome sherds. In fabric the black monochrome ware closely resembles that of Early Helladic Period, but the shapes show less similarity. The sherds vary greatly in color, from gray to deepest black, and a few present a mottled appearance. Noteworthy in some specimens is the extraordinary fine polish. The open bowl continues, but now with more pronounced angular profile. One interesting sherd (top right) is a part of a bowl with inward curving rim. On the shoulder are two parallel incised lines which had a white filling. In their surface finish such sherds as bottom row, second one from the right closely resemble Minyan ware, although its color shades from gray to buff. Certainly the sharp, angular profiles, flat, thin rims, and flat handles give a decidedly metallic effect and are reminiscent of Minyan ware. This is even more true in the case of the red monochrome ware. In some respects the red monochrome ware resembles that of the Early Helladic Period in its fine lustrous finish and its high polish, but when the sherds from the two periods are placed side by side the difference in fabric and finish is easily discernible. Frequently the sherds of this period have a sort of crackled appearance and in the poorer examples the red slip has worn badly. None of the sherds present that vivid red color which enables one to compare the earlier pieces with the best of Northern Greek red neolithic ware. For this period too many of the sherds have a mottled appearance, but red is always the predominating color. Besides the familiar shapes - the open bowl with flat bottom and the bowl with inward curving rim - the stemmed vase is found. None of the fragments found this year have ringed stems, but several plain stems occur. The open bowl with one lug handle is fairly common. The flat, elliptical handle, which was set on horizontally, is pieced with one string hole (seond row, second from left). These string holes were bored by a rotating drill, sometimes worked from both sides of the vase, but more often from one side only. When bored from both sides the hole has a biconical shape. An interesting sherd is on the top row, second from left: the outer surface is covered with a deep creamy mattpaint, the inside with a red slip.
Negative Number:   AK 1113
Category:   Pottery
Subcategory:   Vessel
Site:   Acropolis, North Slope
City:   Athens
Region:   Attica
Country:   Greece
Date:   1937
Format:   Interpositive
Dimensions:   23.5 X 17.5
Bibliography:   Hesperia 6 (1937), p. 547, fig. 5.
Repository:   ASCSA ARCHIVES
Collection Title:   Archaeological Photographic Collection
Series:   AK
Image Width:   2817
Image Height:   2123