KP1990-030A (Early Roman Corinthian Cinerary Urn) [permalink] [show more links]
Logical part of
Kenchreai Cemetery Project Inventoried Objects
Typological identification
Regional Cinerary Urn
Description
Flat bottom. Cylindrical body. Vertical, rounded lip, tapering on interior and thickening slightly outward. Two substantial horizontal flanges with spreading outer edge and slightly concave face project from body, one at 2.5–3.5 cm above bottom (decorative) and one at 4.4–5.6 cm below rim (lid seating). Two arching, horizontal ribbon handles attach to body just below midpoint. Two grooves around body just above handles. Brown to black painted decoration over two horizontal zones, one below the grooves and one above. Below: two garlands, each a thick band with two rows of oval, blobby leaves, swoop down from handles, where they appear to be tied with ribbon or fillet that hangs loosely below. Above: three to four rows of long, pointed leaves(?), some contiguous, painted with wispy, lateral brushstrokes.
Fabric, firing, and surface description
Fabric: 5YR 6/6, reddish yellow. Painted decoration: 10YR 6/4, light yellow-ish brown, to 5YR 5/6, light brown. Somewhat hard, fine fabric with rare mica, common, small to very small, white, brown, and gray inclusions. Thin, uneven, dull, flaky slip.
Preservation comment
26 joining fragments preserve complete bottom and most of body and rim of container, with both handles (1990-030A+146+1995-007). Slight erosion, abrasion, pitting, and chipping; extensive encrustation on exterior and interior, in places a heavy coating and in places a scattered speckling. Thick, even black discoloration across exterior and over rim: soot stain? Large portions of painted decoration are worn off.
Published as
MorisonRife2022, pp. 600, 679-681, no. 153a, fig. 17.30
Estimated diameter lower bound
0.272
Estimated diameter lower bound
0.272
Estimated diameter upper bound
0.282
Height
0.298
Rim diameter
0.235
Chronology comment
Dated 1st-early 2nd century.
Material
Ceramic (Material)
Drawing
Linked to

KP146 (Early Roman Regional Cinerary Urn)

Suggested citation
“KP1990-030A (Early Roman Corinthian Cinerary Urn).” In Kenchreai Archaeological Archive, edited by J.L. Rife and S. Heath. The American Excavations at Kenchreai, 2013-2025. <http://kenchreai.org/kcp/kp1990-030a>