fragmen excavations Mallowan

Mallowan's chief task was to supervise the digging of a deep pit that was expected to provide information about the extent and origins of the prehistoric settlement of Nineveh. These periods were largely uncharted territory. As Agatha described it: 'It was endlessly interesting. Although it was so old - it was new!'

A deep sounding was dug from the highest point of the mound at Kuyunjik on 15 October 1931. Originally a square measuring 12 by 12 metres, the pit became smaller the further down it went. Steps were dug into the sides, with workmen posted on them to pass the soil up out of the pit. After eleven weeks the pit went 25 metres down and three-quarters of the massive pit proved to be prehistoric.
Their finds resulted in the first attempt to establish a chronological scheme for prehistoric Assyria. Mallowan distinguished five levels covering 3,500 years, which he named Ninevite 1 to 5, from top to bottom. This fragment dates to Ninevite 5 (about 2900-2550 BC), one of the levels which Max found particularly interesting. It is characterized by vessels on a foot, bowls painted with animal and other patterns (as here), or pottery made of fine grey ware adorned with incised and indented patterns.

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Height: 9.400 cm
Excavated by Max Mallowan
ME 1932-12-12,317?