Palette – rhomboid, decorated fragment PAL-0234
By Hendrickx, Stan
, Settlement, square 40.
1977–1986 : Sapienza University Roma excavation.Egypt.
Date : Naqada I–II (?)
The palette was probably reused at Maadi. Dated after the general range of rhomboid palettes production.
Material : Greywacke (Incised)
Preservation : Fragment
Preservation information :
Only the central part of the palette is preserved.
Description
Fragment of a rhomboid palette. The original shape cannot be precisely reconstructed, but it likely had rounded ends of the smaller axis and pointed extremities.
Decoration
Two animals are incised on one side. One faces toward the left, its back along the edge of the palette; it has a stylised, elongated body of which only the front part is preserved. It has two straight, if slightly curved, horns or ears that lack any characteristic detail to ascertain the intended species, which may be a gazelle. Its body is decorated with regular, parallel obliques hashes. Traces of another animal are visible below, which has almost been obliterated by the pecking. Only the curved side of a belly and a flexed leg can be seen; it can be suggested that a crocodile, seen in top view and facing to the right, may have been originally present here.
Object use
The palette is heavily picked on both sides.
Comments
It is not currently possible the determine if this fragment belonged to the same palette as fragment PAL-0233, which also bears an incised animal.
