NEUTRON-ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF BIRD BOWLS AND RELATED ARCHAIC CERAMICS FROM MILETUS

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.