| Notes on items |
2014-03-30 |
rAH |
The orientation of this object is completely problematic. It is not possible to reconstruct a viable orientation and analysis without having the actual object in front of one. There is no basis for considering the object to be an "ox," as the excavator surmises. There is no decoration at all on this object. Certain anatomical details have been delineated by deep incisions. That the "throat juts out significantly" is not a basis for considering the object as Bos. Any number of species can display a prominent breast ridge, not just cattle.
This object, as well as several others, raises the question: "Why are the figurines recovered in J5 so fragmented?" It is true that depositional action takes its toll. These representations, however, are so damaged as to obscure all but one or two diagnostic details. As a first observation, we might note that the function -- or the life history of these objects -- is different than the function of the figurines found in the royal storehouse. This is not to say that function is equivalent to life history; but rather that the function of these objects dictates a different path of action and results in their fragmentary recovery. [Input: Y401JW.j] |