Pottery

The pottery from the Phase 1 levels clearly continued the traditions of the earlier Iron Age in shape and decoration, but its distinctive fabric and character made it unmistakable^[58]. Pits and other Phase 1 disturbances which cut into the underlying levels were usually easy to pick up when the sherds were strewn, even if not observed during excavation. The pottery was almost entirely hand-made and was thinner and harder fired. Fine burnished wares are rather less lustrous than previously. The coarse gritty ware found in every earlier level was largely replaced by a thinner fabric, often with a porous, even sandy surface. The decorative features such as jug necks, twisted handles and incision were usually much more sharply defined and angular. The impression is gained of a greater use of a knife on the clay rather than the smoothing rag. The edges of cut-outs are raw, not rounded, while twisted handles and jugs rims have sharp, angular profiles. This pottery development must have taken place during the period when the Toumba was abandoned, but without other excavated sites in the immediate vicinity there is nothing to tell us when the change took place.

At least fifteen restorable vessels, apart from pithoi, represent pottery in use in the northern apsidal building at the time of either the earlier or the later destruction. Another three came from the cobbled surface of the eastern courtyard and the alley while only three more came from the whole of the northern area. Although this is a small sample in comparison to that from Phase 2 it seems sufficient to indicate the popularity of specific shapes at this period - though clearly this should relate to the specific function of the apsidal buildings. Cut-away-neck jugs (9) and wishbone-handled bowls (6) remain popular shapes, the former perhaps even more popular than earlier, to judge by the number of sherds. Jars with collar neck are still standard but the four-handled jar is missing. One-handled jars are present but in a variety of forms and miniature vessels are perhaps more common, relatively, than in Phase 2 (Cf. Fig. 10).