Wheelhead
Π3169
Clay
Intact, mended.
Diameter: 35.5 cm. Maximum width: 7.2 cm.
Gournia
House AC (Room 16)
Late Bronze Age. Neopalatial period, Middle Minoan ΙΙΙ - Late Minoan I period.:
1700-1450 BC:
Gallery:
VICase:
56Exhibition thematic unit:
Late Bronze Age - Neopalatial period (1700-1450 BC). Private and public life. Bread and circusesHome handicrafts. Crafts
Description
Clay wheelhead of the advanced type of freely revolving potter’s wheel, used during the period of the New Minoan Palaces (from c. 1700 BC) in Crete, and leading to the systemisation and increase of ceramic production. The disc has a heavy, prominent rim, which increased the free rotary movement, while the curved sides with slanted grooves aided its turning by hand. The upper surface is flat (slightly curved towards the centre) and has a deep groove near the rim. The underside is concave towards the centre and has shallow oval depressions near the rim, which probably served a practical purpose. In the centre of the underside is a prominent collar with a conical socket in which the vertical axle was fixed using raw clay and, perhaps, some form of stand.Bibliography:
Boyd-Hawes, Η., B. E. Williams, R. B. Seager and E. H. Hall. Gournia, Vasiliki and Other Prehistoric Sites on the Isthmus of Hierapetra, Crete. Excavations of the Wells-Houston-Cramp Expeditions 1901, 1903, 1904. Philadelphia, 1908: 42.33, pl. VIII. Xanthoudides, S., "Some Minoan Potter’s Wheel Discs". In S. Casson (ed.), Essays in Aegean Archaeology Presented to Sir Arthur Evans in Honour of his 75th Birthday. Oxford, 1927: 111-128? 3. Evely, R.D.G. "The Potters' Wheel in Minoan Crete". The Annual of the British School at Athens 83 (1988): 83-126.Author:
P. S.Photographs' metadata