Reconstructed vessels catalog

This large, relatively thin-walled jar was clearly made by the paddle-and-anvil technique. The incised decoration is restricted to the lip and the outer surface above the carination line. The lip motif is PK241, while the main motifs are PK164 above PK108. This vessel is very similar to ECA-V-018 and is likely to have been made by the same potter.

This relatively thin-walled, unrestricted bowl with upturned rim has no interior decoration, but has a row of stamped circles (motif A417) along the lip. The exterior decoration is fairly simple, beginning with motif FOH15, followed by zone marker RZ4D-5R-1, and then the dentate-stamped geometric main motif (PK124). The dentate stamping is fine and quite well executed.

This is the rim of a restricted jar, which may have been carinated although this is not certain. The flat lip is decorated with motif PK324 consisting of sets of three incised lines slanting in alternating directions. The main motif (PK125), executed rather crudely with incised lines, may represent some kind of very stylized face

This is a well-fired, unrestricted bowl with carination and enough of the profile present to indicate that it was supported on a pedestal base. The interior is undecorated while the lip has cutout notches alternating with dentate stamped lines (motif PK114). The main motif (PK113), is bounded top and bottom by zone marker RZ4D-4R-1, and consists of a fairly open and simple zigzag design.

This large, well-made unrestricted bowl has a burnished but undecorated interior. The flat lip has zone marker RZ4D-4-2 running along the inner edge and a row of stamped circles (motif A417) along the outer edge. On the exterior, the carefully executed, fine dentate stamping begins with motif A1, below which is zone marker RZ4D-3R-2. The main motif is PK153, a variant of the zigzag design, with stamped diamonds containing small stamped circles along the bottom.

The interior of this red-slipped, well-fired bowl is undecorated, while the lip is rather elaborated decorated with a row of stamped circles (motif A417) on the inside and alternating triangular cutouts (motif PK174) on the outside; there is also a groove along the exterior of the lip. The exterior decoration begins immediately below the groove with motif M1-1, followed by zone marker RZ4D-3R-2. The main motif is PK154, a variant of the zigzag design with stamped diamonds along the bottom.

This very small unrestricted bowl is unique within the Mussau ceramic assemblage. It shows no traces of residue on the inside, however, there is considerable fire-blackening on the base and a small part of the rim, suggesting that it was placed on or in a fire at some point.

This flat bottom dish has fairly thick sides and an especially thick (and uneven) base and is low fired. The interior is not decorated, while the lip is decorated with motif M28-2-1. On the exterior, the decoration begins with motif A1, followed by zone marker RZ4D-2R-2. The main motif is CS23 of the “windmill” design family, and there is also motif PK329 along the base of the rim.

This is a thick-walled, low-fired, and in general rather crudely made flat bottom dish. The lip is decorated with cutout notches (GS541). The main motif (TFG1838), which is present only in limited fragments, begins immediately below the lip and fills the entire space between lip and base of the rim. The design was made by carving grooves (rather than incising lines) in an open curvilinear pattern. There appear to have been two sets of concentric circles, possibly representing eyes in a stylized anthropomorphic face. There are traces of lime in-filling in the grooves. The base of the rim also has cutout notches. Both the vessel and the decoration are rather crude, suggesting a lack of ceramic skill on the part of the maker.

This is a very well made unrestricted bowl that may originally have been attached to a pedestal base. The lip is decorated with a row of stamped circles (A417) on the inside and motif PK51, consisting of alternating cut out notches and dentate stamped lines on the outside. On the vessel exterior, the decorated begins with motif A1, followed by zone marker RZ4D-4R-2. Below this is the main motif, PK162, of the zigzag type terminating in a row of diamonds with a stamped circle inside of each. It is notable that motif PK162 is displayed in mirror image fashion, joining at a vertical stamped line with three stamped dots to either side. The dentate stamping is very fine and impressively executed, evincing a high degree of technical skill.