In this paper we present the results of a chemical investigation by ne
utron activation analysis of sherds of different kinds of bird kotylai
, bird bowls and related wares excavated in Kalabaktepe, a hill of the
ancient city of Miletus. A new archaeological classification of this
well-known group of Archaic ceramics of eastern Greece is presented. A
number of kiln wasters of misfired vessels from Kalabaktepe revealed
a characteristic local pattern. This pattern helped to clarify the pro
venance of some of the bird bowls classified archaeologically as of or
ientalizing type: they have been made in Miletus. But bird kotylai and
bird bowls in the 'standard fabric' as well as other archaeologically
related vessels show a different chemical pattern of unknown provenan
ce.