IT-1 potsherd
| Object | |
|---|---|
| Classification: | handle |
| Archaeological type: | Henkeltopf |
| Material: | pottery |
| Size: | rim diameter 16 cm, max. diameter 18 cm, height 6.9 cm+, thickness 0.5 cm |
| Condition: | fragmentary |
| Archaeological culture: | La Tène C, La Tène D |
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| Site: | Volders (Tirol, Austria) |
| Field name: | Himmelreich |
| Archaeological context: | southern circular wall |
| Coordinates (approx.): | 47° 17' 15.37" N, 11° 34' 51.92" E |
| Find date: | 1954 |
| Current location: | Museum Wattens (on exhibition) |
| Inventory Nr.: | W.619 |
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| Inscription: | IT-1 (???) |
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| Sources: | Kasseroler 1957: 102, pl. 42, 1 Franz 1958: 124 |
Images
 Object IT-1 potsherd with inscription IT-1.
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 Object IT-1 potsherd with inscription IT-1.
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Commentary
Fragment of a ceramic vessel, probably a handle of a pitcher.
The fabric of the sherd is burnished wheel pottery, produced on a slow wheel; medium-fine clay from red brown to dark grey in colour, with a moderate temper of fine grained sand and cast gold. The fragment indicates an oxidation/reduction firing. Reinforced applied rim cordons appear.
On vertical position outside of the handle fragment could be observed characters which were identified as Roman letters by Franz (cp. Kasseroler 1957: 79).
The potsherd was found at the raetic settlement Himmelreich. From 1953 to 1955 the here located raetic settlement was investigated by Dr. Alfons Kasseroler. The ceramic fragment was found in striking distance to the post-holes and stairs at the southern side of the circular wall, excavated in 1954. In Kasseroler 1957: 102, the find number M 619 is given.
This kind of pitcher appears at almost all La Tène period settlements like Himmelreich, Fritzens or Trappeleacker. Often the term Melauner Henkeltopf is used for labelling this type of vessel with handle. The term however is misleading due to the fact that the present vessel shape does not derive from Melaun ceramic types (cp. Plank 1968: 124).
Autopsied by the Thesaurus Inscriptionum Raeticarum in November 2013.
S.K.
Bibliography
| Franz 1958 | Leonhard Franz, "Ur- und frühgeschichtliche Funde in Nordtirol. Eine Übersicht von 1947 bis 1957", Der Schlern 32 (1958), 119–128. |
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| Gleirscher 1987 | Paul Gleirscher, "Die Kleinfunde von der Hohen Birga bei Birgitz. Ein Beitrag zur Fritzens-Sanzeno-Kultur", Bericht der Römisch-Germanischen Kommission 68 (1987), 181–351. |
| Kasseroler 1957 | Alfons Kasseroler, Die vorgeschichtliche Niederlassung auf dem „Himmelreich“ bei Wattens [= Schlern-Schriften 166], Innsbruck: Wagner 1957. |
| Marzatico 1992 | Franco Marzatico, "Il gruppo Fritzens-Sanzeno", in: Ingrid R. Metzger, Paul Gleirscher, Die Räter / I Reti [= Schriftenreihe der Arbeitsgemeinschaft Alpenländer, Neue Folge 4], Bozen: Athesia 1992, 213–246. |
