Late Predynastic Egyptian "Black-Topped Ware": a study in ceramic specialisation and chronology

K. N. Sowada

Late Predynastic Egyptian "Black-Topped Ware": a study in ceramic specialisation and chronology

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

Abstract

Black-topped ware is a distinctive Predynastic Egyptian pottery type which ii regarded as a chronological marker for the Early Predynastic (Naqada I: 4,000-3,500 BC) and Middle Predynastic (Naqada II: 3,500-3,200 BC) periods in Upper Egypt. It was far less common in the later part of the Middle Predynastic period, and by the late Predynastic era (Naqada III: 3,200-3,000 BC), many scholars have assumed that it died out completely. An examination of the archaeological evidence shows that this is not the case. Black-topped ware continues to be produced into the First Dynasty (ca. 3,000 BC), although the range of shapes is more limited and the function of the vessels appears restricted to ritual or funerary uses. Examples of these ritual vessels have also been found in the Delta which suggests that certain Nile Valley religious practices had spread north. This can be associated with the gradual spread of Upper Egyptian culture and the domination of the Delta region by the southern kings during the period of Egyptian unification.
(The content of this paper was developed and more fully published by the author in JEA 85 [1999]).

Original language	English
Title of host publication	International Ceramic Monographs
Subtitle of host publication	Proceedings of the International Ceramics Conference 25-27 July 1994, Sydney Australia
Editors	C. C. Sorrell, A.J. Ruys
Place of Publication	Sydney
Pages	34-39
Number of pages	6
Volume	1
Publication status	Published - 1994
Externally published	Yes
Event	International Ceramics Conference : Forming the Future - Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia Duration: 25 Jul 1994 → 27 Jul 1994 Conference number: 4th

Publication series

Name	International Ceramic Monographs
Publisher	Australasian Ceramic Society
Number	1-2
Volume	1
ISSN (Print)	1322-2309

Conference

Conference	International Ceramics Conference
Abbreviated title	Austceram 94
Country/Territory	Australia
City	Sydney
Period	25/07/94 → 27/07/94

Keywords

Egypt--History--Early Dynastic Period, ca. 3100-ca. 2686 B.C.
Egypt--Prehistory
Ceramics
Egyptian rituals

Cite this

@inproceedings{039237f0058945119740a4e3c38597e2,

title = "Late Predynastic Egyptian {"}Black-Topped Ware{"}: a study in ceramic specialisation and chronology",

abstract = "Black-topped ware is a distinctive Predynastic Egyptian pottery type which ii regarded as a chronological marker for the Early Predynastic (Naqada I: 4,000-3,500 BC) and Middle Predynastic (Naqada II: 3,500-3,200 BC) periods in Upper Egypt. It was far less common in the later part of the Middle Predynastic period, and by the late Predynastic era (Naqada III: 3,200-3,000 BC), many scholars have assumed that it died out completely. An examination of the archaeological evidence shows that this is not the case. Black-topped ware continues to be produced into the First Dynasty (ca. 3,000 BC), although the range of shapes is more limited and the function of the vessels appears restricted to ritual or funerary uses. Examples of these ritual vessels have also been found in the Delta which suggests that certain Nile Valley religious practices had spread north. This can be associated with the gradual spread of Upper Egyptian culture and the domination of the Delta region by the southern kings during the period of Egyptian unification. (The content of this paper was developed and more fully published by the author in JEA 85 [1999]).",

keywords = "Egypt--History--Early Dynastic Period, ca. 3100-ca. 2686 B.C., Egypt--Prehistory, Ceramics, Egyptian rituals",

author = "Sowada, {K. N.}",

year = "1994",

language = "English",

isbn = "0646191403",

volume = "1",

series = "International Ceramic Monographs",

publisher = "Australasian Ceramic Society",

number = "1-2",

pages = "34--39",

editor = "Sorrell, {C. C.} and A.J. Ruys",

booktitle = "International Ceramic Monographs",

note = "International Ceramics Conference : Forming the Future, Austceram 94 ; Conference date: 25-07-1994 Through 27-07-1994",

}

Sowada, KN 1994, Late Predynastic Egyptian "Black-Topped Ware": a study in ceramic specialisation and chronology. in CC Sorrell & AJ Ruys (eds), International Ceramic Monographs: Proceedings of the International Ceramics Conference 25-27 July 1994, Sydney Australia. vol. 1, 6, International Ceramic Monographs, no. 1-2, vol. 1, Sydney, pp. 34-39, International Ceramics Conference , Sydney, Australia, 25/07/94.

Late Predynastic Egyptian "Black-Topped Ware": a study in ceramic specialisation and chronology. / Sowada, K. N.
International Ceramic Monographs: Proceedings of the International Ceramics Conference 25-27 July 1994, Sydney Australia. ed. / C. C. Sorrell; A.J. Ruys. Vol. 1 Sydney, 1994. p. 34-39 6 (International Ceramic Monographs; Vol. 1, No. 1-2).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference proceeding contribution › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Late Predynastic Egyptian "Black-Topped Ware"

T2 - International Ceramics Conference

AU - Sowada, K. N.

N1 - Conference code: 4th

PY - 1994

Y1 - 1994

N2 - Black-topped ware is a distinctive Predynastic Egyptian pottery type which ii regarded as a chronological marker for the Early Predynastic (Naqada I: 4,000-3,500 BC) and Middle Predynastic (Naqada II: 3,500-3,200 BC) periods in Upper Egypt. It was far less common in the later part of the Middle Predynastic period, and by the late Predynastic era (Naqada III: 3,200-3,000 BC), many scholars have assumed that it died out completely. An examination of the archaeological evidence shows that this is not the case. Black-topped ware continues to be produced into the First Dynasty (ca. 3,000 BC), although the range of shapes is more limited and the function of the vessels appears restricted to ritual or funerary uses. Examples of these ritual vessels have also been found in the Delta which suggests that certain Nile Valley religious practices had spread north. This can be associated with the gradual spread of Upper Egyptian culture and the domination of the Delta region by the southern kings during the period of Egyptian unification. (The content of this paper was developed and more fully published by the author in JEA 85 [1999]).

AB - Black-topped ware is a distinctive Predynastic Egyptian pottery type which ii regarded as a chronological marker for the Early Predynastic (Naqada I: 4,000-3,500 BC) and Middle Predynastic (Naqada II: 3,500-3,200 BC) periods in Upper Egypt. It was far less common in the later part of the Middle Predynastic period, and by the late Predynastic era (Naqada III: 3,200-3,000 BC), many scholars have assumed that it died out completely. An examination of the archaeological evidence shows that this is not the case. Black-topped ware continues to be produced into the First Dynasty (ca. 3,000 BC), although the range of shapes is more limited and the function of the vessels appears restricted to ritual or funerary uses. Examples of these ritual vessels have also been found in the Delta which suggests that certain Nile Valley religious practices had spread north. This can be associated with the gradual spread of Upper Egyptian culture and the domination of the Delta region by the southern kings during the period of Egyptian unification. (The content of this paper was developed and more fully published by the author in JEA 85 [1999]).

KW - Egypt--History--Early Dynastic Period, ca. 3100-ca. 2686 B.C.

KW - Egypt--Prehistory

KW - Ceramics

KW - Egyptian rituals

M3 - Conference proceeding contribution

SN - 0646191403

VL - 1

T3 - International Ceramic Monographs

SP - 34

EP - 39

BT - International Ceramic Monographs

A2 - Sorrell, C. C.

A2 - Ruys, A.J.

CY - Sydney

Y2 - 25 July 1994 through 27 July 1994

ER -

Late Predynastic Egyptian "Black-Topped Ware": a study in ceramic specialisation and chronology

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords

Fingerprint

Cite this