Unique Violet Shards Discovered In East Azarbaijan

Tehran Times ^ | 5-16-2005

[blam]

Unique violet shards discovered in East Azarbaijan

Tehran Times Culture Desk

TEHRAN -- A team of archaeologists has recently discovered over 100 violet-colored shards at the ancient site of Kala Tepe in the reservoir area of the Ai-Doqmush Dam, near the city of Mianeh in Iran’s East Azarbaijan Province, Javad Qandgar, the director of the team said on Sunday.

The team has been tasked with saving the artifacts and gathering information from Kala Tepe, which contains ruins and artifacts from the Bronze Age. The site is being threatened by the Ai-Doqmush Dam, which recently became operational.

“No example of shards in such a color has ever been found at any of Iran’s ancient sites. A comparative study of the shards with examples discovered at other Bronze Age sites may lead to the identification of a new hitherto unknown culture in the region,” Qandgar said.

“The color is not due to the style of baking or the kind of clay used to make the pottery. The shards, which bear some geometrical engravings, have also been covered with a special glaze,” he added.

Experts estimate that in one year the waters will reach Kala Tepe, which is located at the end of the Ai-Doqmush Dam reservoir. Unbelievably, officials of the dam project have only allocated the paltry sum of 10 million rials (about $12,000) to save the artifacts and gather information at the site!

[blam]

You seem to have an 'eye' for archaeological art. Any Ideas/comments?

[blam]

GGG Ping.

[nuconvert]

pong

[AdmSmith]

Unbelievably, officials of the dam project have only allocated the paltry sum of 10 million rials (about $12,000) to save the artifacts and gather information at the site!

Unfortunately, if it predates Mohammad it is of no value to those ahistorical bastards.

[Fedora]

It's hard to say too much without photos. I'm curious about the shape of the geometrical engravings and about the distribution and symbolic meaning of violet pottery elsewhere. I find a little information here:

Notes and Sources for Ancient Pottery of the Occident

Combined with small amounts of iron, manganese oxide may give rich shades of cool brown. Combined with small amounts of cobalt oxide, it can produce deep violet or plum colors. . .The presence of sodium or potassium in a glaze favors the production of brilliant strong colors from the addition of various coloring oxides, In alkaline glazes copper oxide gives intense hues of blue-green, turquoise, or blue. The famous "Egyptian blue" color which appears on ancient Egyptian faïence is an alkaline glaze colored by copper. Cobalt in an alkaline glaze gives an intense blue. Iraon gives strong shades of straw color or brown, and manganese gives rich hues of violet and grape-purple. The colors from these coloring oxides are more intense and scintillating in low-fired alkaline glazes than in any other type.

[ApplegateRanch]

A comparative study of the shards with examples discovered at other Bronze Age sites may lead to the identification of a new hitherto unknown culture in the region,” Qandgar said.

What, if any, relationship (geographically, not necessarily culturally) does this find have to the discovery of the graves of 'a new hitherto unknown culture' a week or two back?

IIRC, they were recently found in a village being 'salvage excavated' ahead of a new reservoir somewhere over there. They were three burials completely different than the rest of the graves that were found at the site.

[blam]

Thanks. No photo's available.

[blam]

"IIRC, they were recently found in a village being 'salvage excavated' ahead of a new reservoir somewhere over there. They were three burials completely different than the rest of the graves that were found at the site."

Yup. That's why I high-lighted that portion. I'll see if I can find and link it.

[ApplegateRanch]

Thanks. I figured they were related finds, but with all the damned dam building going on at ancient sites, I wasn't sure.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam. I had a cousin Violet who was pretty old when she died.

Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

[Alkhin]

I wish there were pictures included of the artifacts. Its sounds very much like an effect that occurs in a raku glazing process, which I love. I have one or two items that have this purplish/violet color because of the raku process.

You have (regular) mail, Fedora!

blam, if you could include me in your archaeological ping list, please :D

[blam]

"blam, if you could include me in your archaeological ping list, please :D"

Welcome. FReeper 'SunkenCiv' manages the GGG Ping list.

[Cold Heart]

BTTT

[SunkenCiv]

I'll add you to the list as soon as I get home (I've got to log off, I'm at work right now).