C-Ware – sherd, type uncertain, body C-0128
By Droux, Xavier
, Cemetery HK6, Tomb 22 area.
30.11.1999 : Hierakonpolis Expedition excavation (sherd with antelope head). 02.03.2016 : Hierakonpolis Expedition excavation (sherd to left of antelope head).Egypt (Find 270; 16-1156).
Date : Naqada IA–IIB
General range of C-ware production.
Material : Nile silt (Painted)
Preservation : Sherds
Decoration preservation : Partially faded
Preservation information :
Two mended sherds.
Description
The interior surface is not slipped.
Decoration
To the right, the head, horns, and neck of an antelope are preserved. The horns are diverging at the base before curving toward each other. It is the only such type of horns in the C-ware record, which renders the identification of the species uncertain, although the hartebeest has been suggested. In front of the horns, the extremities of two lines, painted next to one another, are just visible.
In front of the antelope is a complex motif that tapers toward the top. It is filled with loops and zigzags; there are dots along its right edge, wich consists of two parallel lines, and small loops along the other edge. It may be part of the body of a crocodile, but it is impossible to secure this identification without further mends. To the left of that motif is a partly-preserved rectangular feature with a dividing line in its center, and the tiny part of another motif at the extremity of the sherd.
Dimensions (cm)
6.7 x 4.3
Additional information
Closed
not preserved
Outside
Comments
The sherd with the head of an antelope was found in Area 1, Context 33 (Find no. 270). The second sherd was found in Square F13, Locus 16-62 (no. 16-1156; both contexts are in the area of Tomb 22).
Acknowledgements
We thank Dr Renée Friedman for facilitating the study of this artefact.
References
2002
Decorated sherds from renewed excavations at Locality 6, Hierakonpolis. Cahiers Caribéens d'Egyptologie 3–4
, 8, 20, 25, fig. 4.2004
Excavations in the Elite Predynastic Cemetery at Hierakonpolis Locality HK6: 1999-2000. Annales du Service des Antiquités de l'Egypte 78
, 44–5, fig. 9, b.2009
Les peintures sur vases de Nagada I–Nagada II: nouvelle approche sémiologique de l'iconographie prédynastique. Egyptian Prehistory Monographs 6. Leuven
, cat. 588.2016
Putting the Hierakonpolis C-ware on the Map. Nekhen News 28
, 16 (fig. HK6, centre).2017
The elite predynastic cemetery at Hierakonpolis HK6: 2011–2015 progress report, in: Midant-Reynes, Beatrix; Tristan, Yann (eds); Ryan E.M. (ass), Egypt at its origins 5: proceedings of the Fifth International Conference "Origin of the State. Predynastic and Early Dynastic Egypt", Cairo, 13th–18th April 2014. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 260. Leuven
, fig. 4b.