Amphoroid Krater

White Painted Ware II (?) amphoroid krater or storage container. Piriform body, slightly raised ring type of base, lightly smoothed into sides of body with pedestal effect; tall cylindrical neck, slightly concave, flaring considerably at top into wide flattened slightly down-turned rim; two opposing horizontal loop handles, set high on body/shoulder, round in section with somewhat squared off attachments extending out from body.

Pink-orange clay with many large and small inclusions, black, white and brown in color.

No slip. Decoration is primarily in horizontal bands, in dark brown paint. There are 2 medium bands inside top of neck, the upper extending onto inside edge of flattened rim, another band on the outer edge and over the side of the rim. Between these two are 4 groups of radiating strokes, unable to determine number per group (approx. 13). There is a medium-wide band from underneath rim onto upper neck; below this is a set of very narrow bands; then a wide band; then another set of 6 very narrow bands; another wide band; and another set of 6 very narrow bands. Below this is a wider band, extending across neck-shoulder join. The narrow bands appear to be spirally made, although are hard to trace due to deposits on neck. On upper shoulder there are 4 sets of concentric circles, 5 circles per set with the center visible in 2 of the sets. They are evenly placed, one above each handle, and one centered on each side. There is a set of 2 medium bands with 3 narrow bands between them on lower shoulder, NOT spirally made. On upper body there is a wavy band from handle to handle; at mid-body there is a set of 2 medium bands with 4 very narrow bands between them, also not spirally made. On lower body are 2 medium bands. The handles have brown on their upper, outer, and inner surfaces, with brown outlining the attachments (around them) and extending down onto body ("moustache-style").

Ridge at junction of neck and shoulder, thickening inside body, tool marks or wheel marks (ridges?) on body of vessel, especially on the mid and lower body are due to shaping when the vessel was turned upside down. Inclusions show which is usually due to dragging. Unevenness in the shape. A few drops and smears of paint noted. Difference in surface color, with a slip-like effect on the outside of the neck, but lacking inside; some mottling elsewhere on the body.