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^[[110]]

CHAPTER ^[[VI]].

Notes on Ceramics.

Pending the completion of the excavation, only preliminary notes can be made regarding the ceramics from this site. The same is true with the artifacts dealt with in the following two chapters. So these studies only aim at pointing out some of the salient features.

1. Classification.

The following are the main classes of the Shang Dynasty Pottery excavated from Hsiao-t'un:

I. Coarse, mostly ranging from grey to black, some are brick-red. They are both hand-made and turned on wheel. Practically all daily wares belong to this class. Majority of these wares bear impressed marks, some with incised decoration. Clay is sometime of a mixed character, frequently containing big quartz-grains; but in many cases it is almost homogenious.

II. Fine white pottery, both plain and decorated. These wares are relatively rare, but quite characteristic. Like the above class, they are both hand made and wheel made. The clay content is quite uniform. All decorations ^[[with]] are incised. These wares were probably used only on special occassions. 

III. Fine black pottery, both plain and incised. Rare. Hand made as well as wheel made. Clay thoroughly homogenious.

IV. Hard-baked pottery. These wares are usually covered with a thin layer of salt glaze. Body hand made; rims trimmed on wheel. All with simple incised decorations.