| Roster |
Date |
Author |
Record |
| Ware or Material, species |
2008-07-13 |
sNP |
clay [Input: S714DL7.j] |
| Color |
2008-07-13 |
sNP |
very pale brown [Input: S714DL7.j] |
| Color number (Munsell) |
2008-07-13 |
sNP |
10YR 7/4 [Input: S714DL7.j] |
| Condition |
2008-07-13 |
sNP |
broken (just the body is preserved) [Input: S714DL7.j] |
| Notes on items |
2014-03-30 |
rAH |
The fact that this figurine was found in K24, as I understand, near the monumental staircase to the temple, is provocative. Could the bearer have been bringing wool to the temple as an offering? Ordinarily, I do not indulge in such speculation. This artifact, however, mutilated or broken as it may be, bears comparison with the representations recovered in the Royal Storehouse; that it was recovered in this particular place does prompt the question. If it were within the closed context of AK, we would read this exemplar differently.
It would be important to correlate this stratum with strata in the Royal Storehouse. Is the artifact coeval with artifacts there? Or, if not, should we begin to think about the persistence of a representational tradition? That is, Ovis must have been represented in the same manner over generations. The same question may be posed for other representations found in this unit.
The measurements of this figure correspond roughly to those expected for Ovis I. Naturally, measuring from illustrations that may foreshorten and sometimes falsify the view is problematic. However, here follow approximate measurements for this figurine that can be determined from the photographs.
Forequarters (w1) 1.6. Torso (w2) 1.5 hindquarters (w3) 2.2 tail .8 neck 1.2 length 3.6. Thus, the ratio of tail to hindquarters is slightly greater than 1: 3. The width at the neck is approximately three quarters of the width of the forequarters (w1@neck >/= 3/4w1). The fore quarters are greater in width than the torso and the torso is not quite as wide as the hindquarters (w1 >/= 4/5w1 </= w3). The length is a little less than twice the width of the forequarters (lg </= 2w1). [Input: Y401JW.j] |
| 2014-03-30 |
rAH |
This figurine, one of two found in unit K24, is a nice example of Ovis TYPE I; that is to say, a sheep raised for its wool. The excavator has correctly determined the species. However, the body type says that this animal was more likely raised for its wool, than for its meat or for its milk (Thus, TYPE I and not TYPE II). The caudal view (V21d4614) clearly shows a tail, which is almost exactly one-third the width of the hindquarters; this is a diagnostic feature of Ovis I. Compare, in the AK figurine volume, Ovis 9 A6q19.1 caudal view. Also see Ovis 3 A1q474.1. Luckily, the illustrations collected here do show the caudal view; there is no dorsal view, which would have provided more diagnostic detail and certainty regarding this identification.
In some cases, measurements given are not diagnostic. It is useless to provide a measurement of an element that is broken; or, rather, terminates in a break; clearly such a measurement could not be diagnostic for it does not conform to the original extension of the element. Invariably, the "height" of a figurine is not determinant, for the head and/or feet are often missing. [Input: Y401JW.j] |