How to Observe in Archaeology Part 12

Pre-Semitic Period (down to circa 2000 B.C.).

Ware hand-modelled, without wheel, coa.r.s.e, gritty, and generally soft-baked and very porous. The section of a clean fracture is usually of a dirty yellowish colour, resembling in appearance coa.r.s.e oatmeal porridge. Bases usually flat, loop-handles or wavy handles on the bodies of the vessels: mouths wide and lips curved outward. The body of the vessel often decorated with drip lines or with a criss- cross, in red paint.

First Semitic Period (circa 2000-1800 B.C.).

Similar to the last: but the potter's wheel is used, and horizontal painted and moulded rope-like ornament also found. Combed ornament and burnished lines frequent.

Second Semitic Period (circa 1800-1400 B.C.).

During this period imports from Egypt, Crete, the Aegean Sea, and especially Cyprus were common, and potsherds originating in those countries are frequently to be picked up: also local imitations of these foreign wares. The ware of this period is on the whole well- refined and well-modelled: the most graceful shapes, in jugs and bowls, belong to it. Elaborate polychrome decoration, including figures of birds. But little moulded ornament.

Third Semitic Period (circa 1400-1000 B.C.).

The same foreign influences are traceable, but rather as reminiscent local imitations than as direct imports. Late Minoan [Mycenaean]

sherds are, however, frequent. The shapes of vessels are less artistic than in the preceding period: the painted ornament is also degenerated, being traced in wiry lines rather than in the bold wash of the preceding period.

Fourth Semitic Period (circa 1000-550 B.C.).

Late Cypriote imports. The local ware very poor, coa.r.s.e, gritty, inartistic. No painted ornament except mere lines: clumsy moulded ornament frequent.

Post-Exilic and h.e.l.lenistic Period (circa 550-100 B.C.).

Imports from Greece (sometimes fragments of black or red figured vases, or lekythoi) and from the Aegean Islands (especially wine-jars from Rhodes: stamped handles of such are frequent). The native ware is easily recognizable by its smoothness and hardness; when struck with a stick a sherd emits a musical clink. The vessels are very fair imitations of cla.s.sical models, occasionally with painted ornament, but more frequently moulded.

Roman and Byzantine Period (circa 100 B.C.-A.D. 600).

The unmistakable character of the ware of this period is the ribbed surface, with which nearly all vessels are decorated. Fragments of ribbed pottery are strewn almost over all Palestine. Ornament consisting of repeated impressions of stamps now begins to appear.

Lamps with decoration, inscriptions, Christian or Jewish symbols common. Gla.s.s vessels also frequent.

Arab Period (circa A.D. 600 onwards).

The early Arab ware often bears painted decoration singularly like that on Second and Third Semitic pottery, but a fatty soapy texture characterizes the Arab ware, which is absent from the earlier sherds.

There is likewise a complete absence of representation of natural forms (birds and the like). In or about the Crusader period the use of ornamental glaze makes its appearance.

[Ill.u.s.tration XII: PALESTINIAN POTTERY TYPES]

VI. Sanctuaries.

The hill-top shrines, now consecrated to saints of Islam, are doubtless in origin ancient Canaanite high places. There is here a rich but a very difficult field for investigation. The difficulty lies in (a) gaining the confidence of those to whom the sanctuaries are holy, and (b) guarding against wilful or unconscious deception.

Only long residence and frequent intercourse, with the Muslim population will make it possible for any one to obtain really trustworthy information as to the traditions or the sites of these ancient sanctuaries. A knowledge of Arabic is essential for a study of the sites themselves, as there are frequently inscriptions cut or painted on the walls which should be studied. The casual traveller cannot hope to carry out researches of any value on these ancient sites.

Sometimes the buildings are Crusaders' churches transformed. The one really certain fact as to masonry dressing in Palestine may here conveniently be noticed--that Crusader structures are built of well- squared stones with a plane surface finished off with a dressing consisting of very fine diagonal lines. Once seen, this masonry dressing is absolutely unmistakable.

Buildings thus identified as Crusader should be examined for masons'

marks.

VII. Miscellaneous.

The following are some other types of ancient remains with which the traveller may meet almost anywhere in Palestine:

(1) Prehistoric (Stone Age) sites. Marked by being strewn with flint implements and chips: see a fine collection in the Museum of the a.s.sumptionists (Notre-Dame de France) at Jerusalem. Specimens should be collected and the site mapped.

(2) Dolmens. Frequent east of Jordan; rare, though not unknown, in Western Palestine. Should be measured, photographed, described, and mapped.

(3) Rock-cuttings of various kinds, which should be measured, planned, and mapped. Among these the commonest are: (a) Cisterns (usually bottle-shaped, a narrow neck expanding below).

(b) Cup-markings, common everywhere. Often a.s.sociated with cisterns.

(c) Wine and olive presses: there is a great variety in form, but they generally consist of two essential parts--a shallow _pressing- vat_ on which the fruit was crushed, and a deeper _receiving-vat_ in which the expressed juice was collected. The vats are often lined with cement containing datable potsherds, and are sometimes paved with mosaic tesserae.

(d) Quarries.

(4) Sacred trees and bushes, recognized by the rags with which they are festooned. Should be photographed and mapped, and their legends ascertained, subject to the cautions given above under the head of Sanctuaries.

(5) Castles and churches, usually of the Crusader period: early Saracenic buildings. Should be recorded by means of plans, photographs, measured drawings, and written descriptions.

(6) Mosaic pavements, usually belonging to Byzantine buildings; should be recorded by means of coloured drawings.

CHAPTER VII

EGYPT

[See the diagrams of flint implements, Ill.u.s.tration II; pottery, Ill.u.s.tration XIII; and the table of hieroglyphic signs liable to be confused with each other, Ill.u.s.tration I]

First Prehistoric Age, 8000?-7000? B.C.

Cemeteries of round or oval pits on the desert; no towns known. Red faced pottery, often with l.u.s.trous black top, earliest with patterns of white slip lines: all hand-made. Block figures of ivory or paste.

Combs with long teeth and animal tops.

Second Prehistoric Age, 7000?-5500 B.C.

Graves, square pits. Red faced, and much coa.r.s.e brown pottery. Buff with red painting of cordage, spirals, and ships. Pot forms copied from stone. Some pots globular with wavy ledge handles, changing to cylinders with wavy band. Slate palettes in all prehistoric periods.

Early Dynasties, 5500-4700 B.C.

Towns and cemeteries. Great mastabas of brick. Wooden coffins begin.

Great jars; hard, wheel-made pottery. Glazed tiles, &c. Stone bowls common. Cylinder sealings on clay.

Pyramid Period, IV-Vl Dynasties, 4700-4000 B.C.

Sculptured stone tomb-chapels. Diorite bowls. Thick brown pot offering bowls. Limestone statues, painted. Cornelian amulets in strings.

Vl-XI Dynasties, 4200-3600 B.C.

Copper mirrors begin. b.u.t.tons, wide face, un-Egyptian work. Pottery models of houses placed on grave edge.

Middle Kingdom, Xll-XIII Dynasties, 3600-2900 B.C.

Brick pyramids. Large rock tomb-chapels, painted. Hard drab pottery.

Alabaster kohl-pots, good forms. Globular beads, large; cornelian, amethyst, and green glaze. Scroll pattern scarabs.

XIV-XVII Dynasties. 2900-1600 B.C.

Small flasks with handles, black with p.r.i.c.ked patterns. Coa.r.s.ely cut scarabs. Sh.e.l.l beads.

New Kingdom XVIII-XXI Dynasties, 1587-952 B.C.

Small painted tombs. Pottery, red face black edge to 1500; buff, red and black lines to 1400; blue bands 1400-1200. Hard polished drab, about 1400-1350. Gla.s.s beads, &c., abundant 1400-1300. Glaze deep blue 1500, brilliant blue 1400, poor blue 1300, green 1200: deep blue ushabtis 1100, pale and rough 1000. Ushabtis, stone or wood engraved 1550-1450, pottery 1450 to very coa.r.s.e 1250, wood very coa.r.s.e by 1250; glazed fine 1300, decline to small rough lumps 800. Beads, minute coloured glaze and stone to 1450, thin discs 1450-1350, coloured pastes red and blue 1450 to 1300, yellow gla.s.s mainly 1300- 1200, poor glaze after 1200. Alabaster kohl-pots, clumsy forms to 1450; tubes of stone, glaze, wood, or reed 1450-1200.

Bubast.i.tes, XXII-XXV Dynasties, 950-664 B.C.

Clumsy large jars, widening to bottom, small handles. Green glazed figures of cat-head G.o.ddess, cats, pigs, and sacred eyes; coa.r.s.e gla.s.s beads, yellow and black: copper wire bracelets. Gla.s.s beads with blue spots in circles of brown and white. Scarabs coa.r.s.e and worst at 750. Fine work revived at 700 by Ethiopians. Glazes dull, dirty, green. Gla.s.s unknown. Coffins very roughly painted.