THE POTTERY
by Jonathan Last
In general terms the earliest pottery is that from the Mellaart Area (levels VIII-VII in Mellaart's phasing), followed by North (VII-VI), BACH (probably VI), Summit (IV) and KOPAL (?Late Neolithic/Early Chalcolithic). Hence the different assemblages provide snapshots of activity on and around the mound at several time points, although interpretation is limited by their small size.
The most interesting finds in 1997 in the Mellaart area were associated with the 'bin' in the south-west corner of 117, which was filled with a large number of clay balls (1889). 1889 also produced relatively large pieces of three vessels: the first (1889.X15, S8, S9, 2322.S2, S4, S5, 2329.S2) includes some pieces from the dump deposit adjacent to the bin, although it is unclear how dispersed the fragments of this potsherd actually were - it may just have been a problem with defining the limits of the different deposits. The reconstructed sherd forms the lightly burnished rim of a simple bowl 130mm in diameter, with mottled surfaces. The second vessel (1889.X72, X113, 1868.S2) links the bin with an overlying dump unit; it consists of part of a large, coarse light-faced base about 140mm in diameter with signs of use-related abrasion on the underside. The third piece (1889.X114) is a large body sherd apparently not related to either of the other two vessels. Analysis of the other finds from this deposit may provide information on how the material got there, but the presence of animal bones suggests the assemblage represents discard rather than de facto refuse (abandoned material in storage), and the fragmentary nature of the pottery here would tend to confirm that interpretation. No sherd joins across units were noted among the rest of the 117 assemblage but joins were found within the larger units, e.g. dump 1873 produced 19 sherds from a minimum of 11 vessels. Moreover 2329.S1, 1873.S1 and 1873.S6 have a distinctive fabric with fine striations on the exterior and almost certainly came from the same vessel.
Excavations in the North area were concerned with burials and wall removal for a large part of the season and little pottery was found, in fact only 44 sherds from the whole area. Despite the small size, however, it is an interesting assemblage because both vegetable-tempered and mineral-tempered pottery is represented, this transition from vegetable to mineral temper between levels VII and VI which was not fully seen in the Mellaart area where excavations began in level VII with a mixed assemblage.