Jar

Ubaid period (5500–4000 BC), Kudish Saghīr trench 16

Painted terracotta

1931.162.2

Height: 9.2 cm

Rim diam.: 9.9 cm

Max. diam.: 13.7 cm

A globular jar with an everted rim. The exterior of the rim displays a solid red-brown color, and the upper body of the vessel is decorated with three bands of chevrons separated by reserved bands. A final, lower band of decoration appears to be a row of triangles. Restored at the Harvard Art Museum / Straus Center for Conservation and Technical Studies in 1950 after an accidental breakage, and again in 1998.

Context

This jar was recovered in Kudish Saghīr, about 2.5 km from the main mound of Nuzi. Only two weeks’ excavation was invested in exploring this small neighboring mound. There was no evidence of habitation corresponding to the period of Nuzi settlement, but some prehistoric surface finds were recovered. Trench 16, which contained the most objects, was located near the foot of the mound. Painted wares outnumbered the plainware and knobbed or incised wares found in other trench-probes. Richard Starr also reported that biconical sling pellets, stone tools, and other miscellaneous finds were recovered with the sherds.

Publications: F. A. M. Handbook 1931; Starr 1937, pl. 43C; Starr 1939, 592

Original Field Catalogue Entry

Unknown