Siltstone Claystone Fabrics

Fabric Group

Description

Shapes

Chronology

Distribution

4. Hearth Classic

The surface is rosy red to red brown in colour (2.5YR 5/6), medium hard, smooth to bumpy to the touch, and occasionally burnished. The core is usually dark brown (10YR 4/3), and medium to hard. Inclusions are soft yellow, tan, pink or red claystones/siltstones or shales, and mixed local sands. The core is usually dark brown. Macroscopic inclusion density is 10-20%.

The most characteristic shapes are broad strap handles, lugs or flat, thick body sherds with broad plain ribs. One pronged rim. Many of the sherds in this fabric are heavily burned.

The strap handles, lugs and pronged rim indicate an Final Neolithic/Early Minoan I date for the fabric as a pottery material. Its use as hearth/ oven lining material continues indefinitely.

Within the Sphakia survey area, Hearth Ware is most common in Regions 3, 4, 6. Hearth Ware is also known in local versions from the Akrotiri (Khania Area Survey Project Final Neolithic/Early Minoan I sites), Nerokourou (Final Neolithic), Debla (Early Minoan I), Atsipadhes Peak Sanctuary (Final Neolithic phase), Vrokastro (Final Neolithic/Early Minoan), and Phourni well (Final Neolithic).

5. Hearth Sand

The same as Hearth Classic (Type 4), except that the sand fraction of the inclusions is more apparent than the claystone.

See Type 4.

See Type 4.

See Type 4.

6. Silver-Blue Spotted ware

A soft powdery buff fabric with a harder pinkish core. The distinctive inclusions are siltstone/claystones that have turned a sliver blue colour, probably due to firing techniques. Other inclusions include quartz, quartz phyllite, phyllite, red ferrous and occasional silver mica. It can occur as a medium fine ware or a coarse ware. Often preserves traces of black paint.

Most commonly a "jar" or bowl shape, but occasionally cups.

The fabric seems to largely date to Late Minoan III-Early Iron Age in Sphakia, though the two pieces from Birmani (7.12) may be Middle Minoan.

Confined to Regions 6, 7 and 8 in Sphakia, i.e. the eastern half of the eparchy. Not a common fabric in Sphakia, but relatively abundant in Ag. Vasilios Valley Survey Project area, where it occurs in both Middle Minoan and in Late Minoan III-Archaic. It is a common jar ware at Middle Minoan Monasteraki. It also occurs in Vrokastro Survey Project. Wilson and Day note it is similar to the common fabric for Late Minoan III-Early Iron Age Malia stirrup-jars.