1960s: ca. 70% of rim and upper body reconstructed with white plaster painted gray.
Description
Flanged bowl with rounded walls and rim; flaring ring foot. Rim above the flange is distinctly rounded and flange is prominent. Bowl is wide in profile and sits above a slightly flaring ring foot with small outer bead at lower edge. Within base on underside are two offsets. Marine submersion has affected appearance of tfabric and slip so that identification is uncertain. By construction vessel is similar to ESA Hayes 48, but flange is more distinct. Other examples of ESA from Underwater Area A turned pink and lost more slip, so that this is not the preferred identification. Pergamene source is more likely.
Fabric, firing, and surface description
Material obscured by weathering: pale reddish yellow(?) fabric with dark gray to black slip; fine; uncommon(?) tiny mixed bits; rare, small, angular and subangular, dark gray or black and lime inclusions; dense tiny sparkles on all surfaces (silvery micaceous). Slip is even, somewhat thin, semilustrous(?); over whole vessel including foot; peeling in large flakes across large areas.
Preservation comment
Intact but missing large fragment (ca. 12%) from upper wall and most rim (ca. 70%). Slight, moderate erosion and abrasion with pitting and flaking, so that surface is soft; grayish film of discoloration over surfaces. Weathering is consistent with long submersion in marine environment.
Published as
KenchreaiIV, p. 128, no. RC 47, pl. 35 (B. Adamsheck)
“KE 2172 (Early-Middle Roman Hemispherical Bowl).” In Kenchreai Archaeological Archive, edited by J.L. Rife and S. Heath. The American Excavations at Kenchreai, 2013-2024. <http://kenchreai.org/ke/ke2172>