| Notes on items |
2014-03-30 |
rAH |
The excavator has determined that this artifact is an animal head; once that determination was made, various details of the "face" were noted. I have yet to see what the researcher saw. What follows are my observations based on the photographs of this object.
V22d7185: it is possible that this is the base of a footed vessel.
V227186: at first, I did not see the utility of this view; then, I began to look more closely at the patterning, if such it is. Vegetal? It rather appears the object was set on something while awaiting firing; perhaps a mat of straw? Look more closely for pattern.
V22d7187: the object is photographed from an odd angle, but this could be taken for an unusual eye-level view of the "dog-based" goblets from AK. It is odd that the representation, if indeed it is one, merges with the "base." If one holds this photo close to the vertical, one can begin to see what the researcher is seeing. There are strikes along a flat and smooth surface of the object. I took these to be the marks of excavation; perhaps that is not the case. Perhaps they were originally struck or drawn into the surface of the wet clay. The supposed snout or chin -- whatever it may be -- only makes sense if we think of popular representations (cartoons) of, say, pigs or other ruminant animals. But to be blunt, I see no parallel with animals of the real world.
The real clue to the function of this object lies in the flat surface it was either made to sit upright or to be affixed to a vertical, flat surface.
I am mindful that I am dismissing the considered opinion of the researcher, who has indeed held this object and seen it at very close quarters. My observations must be taken in this light -- that is, observations at a distance, "second-hand." [Input: Y401JW1.j] |