University of Chicago Excavations at

ISTHMIA

Kantharos and Amphoras found in the destruction debris

"A deep deposit of burnt debris from the collapse of the upper story lay over the room [House IX]. The debris divides into two major layers. The lower was a dark gray-to-black earth with large quantities of broken ceramics, including two drinking cups, one of which is an unusual thorn kantharos....
Most of the sherds were of amphoras, many of which were burned. In all, eight complete amphoras were mended from House IX."

"The University of Chicago Excavations in the Rachi Settlement at Isthmia, 1989", Hesperia Vol. 65 (1996), by Virginia Anderson-Stojanovic

Thorn kantharos.

P.H. 0.085. Diam. rim 0.067. Diam. body 0.070.

Mended and restored. Base missing.

Burned fabric (7.5 YR 6/2 to 7.5YR 5/ 1) with black gloss. Late Classical shape with small molding below rim. On neck, incised diminishing squares flank checkerboard pattern with added white on alternate squares. On belly, three rows of barbotine knobs set off by scraped grooves above and below.

-group stamped transport amphora.

P.H.0.737. Max. Diam.0.398. Diam. neck 0.143. H. neck 0.220. Handle: H. 0.220, W. 0.047, Th. 0.250.

Many joining fragments preserve most of jar and complete profile save for tip of toe.

Medium-fine fabric with some small, dark inclusions and some large, white inclusions, burned dark gray-brown over most of surface; lighter area on exterior (7.5YR 6/3). Outward thickened rim with convex upper and outer faces, overhanging lower edge. Cylindrical neck with groove below handle attachments contracts at top, flares at bottom into broad, sloping shoulder; carination where it meets ovoid body. Heavy knobbed toe would have been roughly conical in section, with sides flaring in a convex curve to rounded upper edge. Tall handles oval in section.

Stamped on top of one handle:

Graeco-Italic transport amphora.

P.H. 0.725. Max. Diam. 0.358. H. neck 0.160. Diam. neck 0.155. Handle: W. 0.047, Th. 0.022.

Mended, preserving much of profile and of body; most of neck, rim, and one handle mended and restored; lower part of toe missing.

Medium-fine reddish beige fabric (5YR 5/3) with many small, dark inclusions; surface, now discolored from fire, has remains of a pale slip (7.5YR 7/5). Heavy, projecting rim with sloping outer face; slightly concave underneath; neck flaring at top. Sloping shoulder concave in profile to ridge at join with elongated, ovoid body. Side walls of cylindrical toe extended beyond solid bottom of jar. Handles are flattened oval in section, with sloping tops and vertical sides.

Dipinto(?) on shoulder and neck:

Corinthian B transport amphora.

H.0.717. Max. Diam.0.40. H. neck 0.135. Diarn. neck 0.116. Handle: W. 0.050, Th. 0.023.

Many joining fragments preserve complete profile, most of jar top, toe, and two thirds of body; restored.

Fabric discolored by fire after jar was broken. Outward-thickened rim has convex outer face, thin upper edge, roughly defined lower edge. Neck cylindrical, but upper half was pushed to oval when handles were attached; two widely spaced grooves around neck near center. Biconical body narrows to simple pointed toe with a very slight swelling at the tip. Handles are flattened oval in section, widen where attached on shoulder, and slant in to rim, arching above it. No stamps preserved.

Second to third quarter of 3rd century B.C.

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