Mixed Metamorphic Fabrics

Fabric Group

Description

Shapes

Chronology

Distribution

7. Hamburger

A Redbrown fabric with large dense grits of mixed metamorphic origin. Quartz makes up more than 1/2 the mix and occurs in sizes up to 4mm and 5mm. Quartz phyllite can also occur in these sizes, and phyllite flakes may range up to 7mm in size. Small amounts of glassy quartz, claystone, chert, ferrous, silver mica and gabbro may also be present.

This fabric is most frequently found in tripod feet, pithos rims, and other large shapes.

A variant of Mixed Metamorphic and difficult to date. At present we can date this fabric no better than Middle Minoan-Late Minoan III.

Sphakia Regions 3 (1), 4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (1), and 8 (13). Clearly, it is more common in eastern Sphakia.

8. Mixed Metamorphic Family Calcareous

A red brown to orange brown fabric with mixed metamorphic grits and occasional medium to large calcareous. Other inclusions are silver mica--/ milky quartz/ calcareous/ phyllite/ schist-.

Tripod Cooking pots.

Possibly a Neopalatial fabric, but may continue through Late MInoan III.

Loutro Mill (5.15) (1), Khora Sphakion Gravel pit (6.16) (5), Patsianos Village (8.42) (1). A fairly localized fabric in Sphakia. Largely confined to Regions 6 and 8.

9. Mixed Metamorphic Family Coarse-fine

This is not so much a fabric type as a ware, as it is dependent on a difference in inclusion density between the body and the attachment (handle, pellet, boss, foot). In each case, inclusions are a metamorphic mix of quartz, phyllite, soft red claystone, felspar, rusty red felsic, ferrous, sandstone or silver mica. The finer body usually has smaller inclusions sizes. The coarser part ranges from 20-40% density. Paste can range from orange to buff.

This feature seems to be found on jugs/jars, but there are a few tripod feet from Birmani (7.12). The reason for this temper density variation could be cosmetic or functional.

At present we are dating this Ware to Middle Minoan-Late Minoan.

It is distributed primarily in the eastern end of the survey area: Region 5 (2), 6 (3), 7 (3) and 8 (19). A few examples have been noted in the Ag. Vasilios Valley Survey Project area, but they are in a different fabric. None in the Vrokastro area.

10. Oatmeal Nut

A buffish surface with a pink core. The clay matrix or paste is usually well levigated and powdery on the surface. Similar to Silver-blue Spotted Ware, but much coarser to touch because of the protruding grits of quartz and quartz phyllite. The paste is full of feldspar.

Mainly jars.

Mainly associated with Late Minoan III-Early Iron Age sites. May continue as late as Archaic.

Not common in Sphakia, but with a very specific distribution.

This fabric may well be imported from Ag. Vasilios Valley Survey Project, where it is very common on Early Iron Age-Archaic sites