Pottery Summary: T-22 (A-M/52-54)

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Pottery fragments occur scattered throughout the cut, although concentrated in the third layer which contains a large amount of carbon and the majority of the catalogued items (this layer is generally equivalent with cut 3).  Of the fabrics represented, approximately 40% is impasto, 40 % red ware, 10% bucchero, 5 % grey ware, and 5 % buff ware.  A few sherd of painted Italo-Corinthian ware were also found.  Few of the sherds joined and the only complete profiles reconstructed came from an area approximatley eleven meters south of the upper building wall (meter K) where, in each case, all of the fragments had collapsed together and were held in place at the time of excavation by large root clumps.

The impasto fabric ranges from a coarse-grained, micaceous clay fired brownish-black throughout to a finer-grained clay fired black on

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the exterior and reddish orange throught the interior.  Profiles of two coarse ware jars exemplify the general shape indicated by the rim, body, and base fragments: a short everted lip, swelling body, and flat base.  Numerous examples of a vertical double-grooved type of rim also suggest a wide-mouthed open jar wth flat base.  (For profiles from this trench, see pg. 89 # 2 and pg. 91, # 2 ).

The finer-grained impasto is generally thinner in section and used primarily for low-footed bowls.  The single profile reconstructed bears a short vertical rim and shallow bowl resting on a rind base.  Sections of conical feet indicate that the fabric was also used for small chalices and plates.

Fragments of red ware and greay ware exhibit the same basic shapes shown by the corase ware and fine grained impasto profiles.  While the grey ware fragments appear to come

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from low-footed cups, rim, handle, and body fragments of orange ware suggest larger storage jars with lateral horizontal handles.

Most of the bucchero rim fragments appear to come from shallow plates, while handle fragments are mainly thin ribbon handles.  Base fragments represent both low conical and flat feet.  Buff ware fragments are generally difficult to identify in terms of shapes or decoration.  Several painted examples could be termed Italo-Corinthian, although preservation is too poor to make the identification certain.