CO129-538-2 Hong Kong University 23-6-1932 - 15-3-1933 — Page 155

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Archaeological Finds on Lamma Island

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faint traces of this net on the outside underlying the final pattern (see frag- ments 1, 5, 7, 10, 13, 28, etc.). This would imply for such jars the prelimin- ary moulding of the upper part in an inverted position and its subsequent join with the lower section to be followed by a finishing on the wheel. The lower section is typically left with the imprint of the textile mould for its de- coration and this usually reaches up to the greatest girth of the pot. I have noted only two distinct cases where the lower half of the vessel was left blank; these two pieces are of very closely similar fabric though they do not come from the one site and their patterns are not the same.

The upper half of these pots from their middle girth to the neck join affords a basis for an inner classification by pattern:

I.a. A pattern practically the same as the "textile-basket of the usual lower half sometimes covers the upper part as well (fragments 2, 3): this is found chiefly with a red soft-brick material which gives in fracture peculiarly typical four-square fragments. The pattern is somewhat firmer than the usual "basket" and for distinction I should call it the grid." Fragments have been found at 17, 24 and 30 inches below the surface. This has in other varieties been observed in plenty on other sites.

(C

1.b.i. Diaper stamped patterns. Varieties in which a lozenge occupies the centre of diaper compartments (figures 5, 6). The frame-work varies in the number of lines owing to the overprinting of the stamp but the typical form is a lozenge surrounded by a diamond frame and both within the compartment of the general frame-work. The lozenge frequently re- sembles a (Mongolian) eye. Varieties occur with a hollow central lozenge. This is a motive found covering large spaces on Chinese bronzes attributed to the Chou period e.g. a tripod in (6) k. 5, p. 2. Typically found on stone- hard, purple-red ware. A piece in softer ware was found at 2 feet, a piece in harder ware at 3 feet.

1.b.ii. A variety is which a small square (set diagonally in relation to the normals on the surface of the vessel) fills the compartments. Perhaps all the fragments are from one vessel. One piece found at 3 feet and fragment 9 at 3' 9". This type of ornament was found in the Han necropolis of Dong- son and subsequent Chinese tombs in Tonkin and N. Annam ( (4) p. 33). Fragment 9 shows very distinctly the dots of projection caused by the depression in the "basket " used to form the vessel.

used to form the vessel. It has been suggested by finds in Annam that the reticulated pattern is intended to give a better surface for a glaze, but no trace of glaze has been found on this ware or even this whole class so far.

I.C. A chequer pattern. This is made with the same type of stamp as that used for the diaper in fragment 5. The only difference, apart from actual size of our specimens which precludes identity of the matrix, is the angle at which the stamping was done (fragment 10).

1.d.

The filled diamond or lozenge.

1.d.i. Fragment 11 shows a lozenge or diagonally set square frame which is divided itself into quadrants diagonally and each of these quadrants is filled with a tree-branch pattern that radiates from the centre of the whole

December 1932.