Greek, Roman and Byzantine Pottery at Ilion (Troia):
Sebastian Heath and Billur Tekkök, Editors
Phocaean Red-Slip
Please note that this is a public draft of work in progress
Also known as "Late Roman C," Phocaean Red-Slip is the most common table ware of the fourth through sixth centuries. Varieties of Hayes forms 1, 2 and 3 are common, with form 3 dominant in fills associated with the late 5th and early sixth centuries. Later forms are less common, though examples of Hayes 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 appear below. The Hayes form 10 is among the latest well-dated ceramics to indicate that activity continued past the early sixth century earthquake. The main typology of Phocaean Red Slip remains that of Hayes published in his Late Roman Pottery (1972), where the name is "Late Roman C". Hayes adopted "Phocaean Red Slip" in the supplement to this volume (1980). Subsequent publication of chemical analysis and kiln material confirm the attribution (EmpereurPicon 1986 and MayetPicon 1968). Ilion is relatively near the production centers around Phocaea so that many variants on the standard series appear in deposits at the site. This is also the case at Assos (Zelle 2003) and Ephesos (LadstätterSauer 2005), which are important points of comparison; similar variants are also known from Scythia (Opait 2004).
1. Phocaean Red-Slip, Cf. Zelle (2000) "Schüssel Form B" (Late 4th Century AD?)
P. H. .021. Est. diam. rim .25 (1/12 preserved). Th. .0041.
K18.0032:27. The slightly granular red (2.5YR 6/8) fabric has lime inclusions, with two large lime chunks near surface The slip is quite thick and bright (slightly darker than 2.5YR 6/8). The outer face of the rim is darker.
While there is some overlap with the later Hayes 6 (LRP, p. 341 and fig. 70.2), a closer comparison is with an unclassified bowl from Assos cataloged as "Schüssel Form B" (Zelle 2003, p. 99); the date of this form is tentatively given as later 4th century.
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2. Phocaean Red-Slip, Cf. Zelle (2000) "Schüssel Form B" (Late 4th Century AD?)
P. H. .044. Est. diam. rim .25 (1/10 preserved). Th. .0035.
N18.0020:1. Single rim sherd. Fabric fired to light red (10R 6/6) with frequent calcareous inclusions. Surface coated on all surfaces, brushed smooth, and fired to just darker than fabric (10R 5/6). Elongated voids
While there is some overlap with the later Hayes 6 (LRP, p. 341 and fig. 70.2), a closer comparison is with an unclassified bowl from Assos cataloged as "Schüssel Form B" (Zelle 2003, p. 99); the date of this form is tentatively given as later 4th century.
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3. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 1a Rim (late 4th to early 5th century AD)
P. H. .029. Est. diam. rim .12. Th. .003.
I17.0647:4. Single sherd. Fine light red (2.5YR 6/6) fabric with occasional tiny lime inclusions and small elongated gaps. Worn surface is darker (10R 5/6) with thin slip. The slip is thinner and a touch darker above the carination.
Cf. LRP, p. 325 and fig. 65.1-2.
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4. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 1a Rim (late 4th to early 5th century AD)
P. H. .036. Est. diam. rim .16. Th. .004.
I17.0647:5. Single sherd. Light red (2.5YR 6/8) fabric with small lime inclusions, occasional darker bits. Surface is mostly lighter red (10R 5/6) but darker above the carination. Light scratches on lower exterior wall.
Cf. LRP, p. 325 and fig. 65.1-2.
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5. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 1 Rim (late 4th to early 5th century AD)
P. H. .037. Est. diam. rim .21. Th. .0044.
M18.0099:15. Single sherd, broad rim with flat upper face. Red fabric with occasional sub-angular lime (.003), rare mica, and other tiny bits. Surface slip is fired to essentially the same color as fabric with only slight discoloration on outer rim from stacking.
Cf. LRP, p. 325 and fig 65.
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6. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 1 Rim (late 4th to early 5th century AD)
P. H. .037. Est. diam. rim .17. Th. .0035.
I17.0829:1. Single sherd. Fine light red (10R 6/6/) fabric with frequent small and tiny lime inclusions. There is a single extant chuck of lime, .0035 in diameter, exploding on the outer surface. Thin red and unsmoothed (10R 5/8) slip on all surfaces, except outer face of rim where darker (10R 4/2 to 5/3) from stacking. Slight carination on outer face.
Cf. LRP, p. 325 and fig. 65.3.
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7. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes 1d Profile (last quarter 5th century)
P. H. .0425. Est. diam. rim .17 (1/5 preserved). Th. .0052.
M18.0045:4. SC12-2a. Four joining sherds preserve wall profile. Dark band under rim from uneven stacking in kiln.
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8. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 1a Base (late 4th to early 5th century AD)
P. H. .028. Est. diam. base .05 (1/5 preserved). Th. .004.
I17.0647:6. Single base sherd. Fine light red (2.5YR 6/8) fabric with occasional tiny lime inclusions. Interior surface is worn away. Exterior is variable but mostly dull red (10R 5/6). Exterior has frequent scratches.
Cf. LRP, p. 325 and fig. 65.1.
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9. Phocaean Red-Slip Base, cf. Form 1
P. H. .035. Est. diam. base .11 (1/5 preserved). Th. .0045.
K17.0752:7. Single base sherd. Fabric is light red (2.5YR 6/8) without excessive lime. Matte surface is red (10R 5/8).
Cf. LRP, p. 325 and fig. 65.2.
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10. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 2a Rim
P. H. .05. Est. diam. rim .30. Th. .005.
I17.0647:1. Fine light red (10R 6/8) fabric with very frequent lime inclusions up to .0025 in diameter but mostly smaller. Surface is mostly light red (10R 5/8) but darker near outer edge of rim and on lower face.
Cf. LRP, p. 327 and fig 66.1.
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11. Phocaean Red Slip Ware Hayes Form 2a
P. H. .057. Est. diam. rim .34 (1/6 preserved). Th. .007.
H17.0050:4. Deep turning marks on exterior. Pinkish buff fine fabric with thin smooth red slip thicker interior.
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12. Phocaean Red Slip Ware, Hayes Form 2a (425)
P. H. .04. Est. diam. rim .19. Th. .006.
H17.0050:2. Pinkish buff fabric with thin red slip fired maroon exterior mottled into black around rim.
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13. Phocaean Red Slip Ware Hayes Form 2 (small)
P. H. .018. Est. diam. rim .12 (1/6 preserved). Th. .006.
D20.0366:15. Pinkish buff fabric (2.5YR 7/6) thin red slip, fired cream interior.
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14. Phocaean Red Slip Ware, Hayes Form 2 small (AD 400-425)
P. H. .027. Est. diam. rim .11 (1/10 preserved). Th. .004.
H17.0032:3. Pinkish buff fabric fired brown on rim, red exterior.
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15. Phocaean Red-Slip Rim Hayes Form 2d (late 4th century AD)
P. H. .015. Est. diam. rim .20 (1/12 preserved). Th. .0047.
K17.0696:15. Single sherd. Frequent tiny lime inclusions. Orange red fabric (2.5YR 6/8). Thick matte slip (10R 6/8).
Near Agora XXXII no. 1244, this variant, with flat rim, extends the typology in LRP.
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16. Phocaean Red-Slip Rim, early Hayes Form 3 variant (Mid-5th Century AD)
P. H. .03. Est. diam. rim .26 (1/12 preserved). Th. .006.
K17.0736:8. Reddish-brown (2.5YR 6/8) fabric with frequent lime and some voids. Matte slip is generally darker (10R 5/8), particularly on outer face of rim. The underside of the rim is tooled flat.
Same rim form as Agora XXXII no. 1254. Cf. Opait 2004 p. 76 and plate 55.
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17. Phocaean Red-Slip Rim, variant of Hayes form 3c
P. H. .037. Est. diam. rim .17 (1/8 preserved). Th. .0057.
M18.0099:4. Single rim sherd. Red (near 2.5YR 6/8) fabric with frequent tiny light bits and small elongated voids. Slip is redder (near 10R 6/8) with outer flange overfired in darker and near white patches. The tooling that created the flange left a groove between rim and wall on exterior.
Similar form, though with more flaring wall and rim, published at Wintermeyer 1980 no. 221; see also Zelle 2003, p. 82.
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18. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 3c Rim
P. H. .033. Est. diam. rim .28 (1/8 preserved). Th. .003.
K18.0032:5. SC12-4c. Three joining rim sherds. Fabric pale red (2.5YR 6/8), occasional tiny lime inclusions. Thinly slipped, interior smoothed only in separated bands, other surfaces unsmoothed. Inner rim fired to pale red (2.5YR 6/8), outer rim very pale in part. Two light bands of rouletting on exterior rim, one each at top and bottom of rim.
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19. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes Form 3c Rim
P. H. .039. Est. diam. rim .21 (1/20 preserved). Th. .003.
K18.0032:14. SC12-4s. Single rim sherd. Fabric fired to pale red (2.5YR 8/6) with some small lime inclusions and occasional larger chunks. Slip is only slightly darker than fabric, more so on outer rim. No rouletting. Two exterior grooves.
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20. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes 3e Rim (AD 475-525)
P. H. .037. Est. diam. rim .21 (1/8 preserved). Th. .0026.
K18.0032:10. SC12-4e. Two joining rim sherds. Very frequent lime, 10R 6/8. Slip is 10R 5/8, not darker on outer face. No rouletting.
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21. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes 3e Rim
K18.0032:12. SC12-4p. Single rim sherd. Single sherd. Fabric red (10R 6/6), occasional lime. Inner rim (10R 5/6), outer face darker. Three bands of rouletting.
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22. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes 3f Rim (AD 500-550)
P. H. .020. Est. diam. rim .15 (1/12 preserved). Th. .005.
K18.0032:20. SC12-4kk. Single sherd. Fabric pale red (2.5YR 6/8) with some small lime inclusions. No rouletting on rim.
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23. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes 3f Rim
P. H. .013. Est. diam. rim .11 (1/20 preserved). Th. .0027.
K18.0032:17. SC12-4aa. Single rim sherd. Fabric fired to pale red (10R 6/8), with some small lime inclusions. Slip slightly darker than fabric (10R 5/8), much darker on outer face. No rouletting, but there are ridges.
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24. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes form 3f Rim
P. H. .019. Est. diam. rim .14 (1/20 preserved). Th. .0031.
K18.0032:30. SC12-4aa. Fabric pale red (2.5YR 6/8) with some small lime inclusions. Matte slip is same color as fabric except on outer face of rim where it is fired slightly darker. No rouletting on rim.
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25. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes form 3 Base
P. H. .026. Est. diam. base .137 (1/3 preserved). Th. .005.
D20.0183:4. Four sherds, three joining, preserve base and lower wall. Pinkish buff fabric with fine orange/red slip. Stamp at center, Greek cross with double outline.
p. 367, 71f, fig.79. (Group II).
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26. Phocaean Red Slip Ware Hayes Form 4
P. H. .03. Est. diam. rim .13 (1/4 preserved). Est. diam. base .063. Th. .005.
H17.1182:1. SC12-4pp. PH. 3; est. D.rim 13; base 6.3; Th. 0.5. Preserving 1/4 of rim and wall. Orange buff fabric (between 2.5YR 5/6 and 6/6) fine lime on surface.
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27. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes form 5b Rim (1st Half Sixth Century AD)
P. H. .013. Est. diam. rim .25 (1/12 preserved). Th. .0084.
K18.0032:6. SC13-1a. Single sherd. Matte orange slip. Rouletting on ledge rim. Occasional lime chunks on surfaces.
LRP, p. 339 and fig. 70.3.
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28. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes form 8 Rim (late 5th century AD)
C29.0001:1. SC13-3d. Single sherd. Light reddish brown (5YR 6/4) fabric with only occasional small lime bits. Interior surface is dull reddish brown (2.5YR5/4). Upper face of the rim is comparatively brown (5YR 5/3) and the exterior surface is darker (5YR 4/2). Two offset ridges on rim.
LRP, p. 342 and fig. 70.1.
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29. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes form 8 Rim (late 5th century AD)
Est. diam. rim .14 (1/3 preserved). Th. .0028.
G27.0004:1. Single rim sherd, downturned rim with ridges. Fabric fired to red (2.5YR 6/8) with small light inclusions. Surface thinly slipped and brushed, same color as fabric.
LRP, p. 342 and fig. 70.1.
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30. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes form 8 Rim (late 5th century AD)
Est. diam. rim .14 (1/4 preserved). Th. .02.
O18.0014:1. Single rim sherd, rounded outer edge of downturned rim. Fabric fired to red (2.5YR 6/8) with occassional small light inclusions. Surface thinly slipped and brushed, fired to darker red (10R 5/6), darker under rim.
Cf. LRP, p. 342 and fig. 70; and Agora XXXII nos. 1317 and 1318.
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31. Phocaean Red Slip Ware Hayes Form 3/10a (6th Century AD)
H. .063. Est. diam. rim .30 (1/3 preserved). Th. .006.
D20.0061:1. Six sherds, in two joining groups of three each, nearly all of profile. Pinkish buff fabric with matte orange slip, fired cream around rim. The profile varies so that a slight offset under the rim is visible along a portion of the extant circumference.
Cf. LRP, p. 343 and fig. 71.4.
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32. Phocaean Red-Slip Hayes form 10c Rim (7th century AD)
P. H. .02. Est. diam. rim .30 (1/20 preserved). Th. .0049.
G27.0001:1. Single rim sherd. Fabric fired to light red (2.5YR 6/6) with frequent calcareous inclusions. Surface coated on all surfaces, brushed smooth, and fired to just darker than fabric (towards 5/6). One large chunk of lime seen just under surface, now visible on surface.
Cf. LRP, p. 343 and fig. 71.12.
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33. Phocaean Red-Slip Stamped Floor (Fifth Century AD)
I17.0558:3. SC13-2t. Two joining sherds. Stamped figure in headdress (mitre?), concentric grooves.
Cf. LRP Group II, p. 346.
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34. Phocaean Red-Slip Stamped Floor (late Fifth AD to early 6th Century AD)
I17.0558:1. SC13-2n. Single sherd. Stamped cross at center of floor, flaring arms, 'rho' to right, pendents below arms.
Cf. LRP motif 67 (p. 364) in Group III, fig. 78j for stamp. Flaring arms "tend to be early".
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General Bibliography
Ladstätter, Sabine and Roman Sauer. 2005. “Late Roman C-Ware und lokale spätantike Feinware aus Ephesos” in Friedrich Krinzinger (ed.), Spätantike und mittelalterliche Keramik aus Ephesos, Wein: 143-201.
Hayes, John. 1972. Late Roman Pottery. Rome. [worldcat.org]
Hayes, John. 1980. A Supplement to Late Roman Pottery. London. [worldcat.org]
Hayes, John. 2008. Roman pottery. Fine-ware Imports The Athenian agora: results of excavations conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens 32. Princeton. [worldcat.org]
Martin, Archer. 1998. “La sigillata focese (Phocaean Red-Slip/Late Roman C Ware)” in Lucia Sagui (ed.), Ceramica in Italia: VI-VII Secolo. Atti del Convegno in onore John W. Hayes Roma, 11-13 maggio 1995, Florence: 109-122. [online]
Opait, Andrei. 2004. Local and Imported Ceramics in the Roman Province of Scythia British Archaeological Reports International Series 1274. Oxford. [worldcat.org]
Vaag, Leil. 2001. “The stamped decoration on Phocaean red slip ware” in Jens Fleischer, John Lund and Marjetta Nielsen (eds.), Late Antiquity: art in context, Aarhus: 215-232.
Vaag, Leil. 2003. “A closer look at the making of Phocaean Red Slip Ware bowls” in Catherine Abadie-Reynal (ed.), Les Ceramique en Anatolie aux Epoques Hellenistique et Romaine, Paris: 203-207.
Zelle, Michael. 2003. “Funde spätantiker Sigillata in Assos” in Bernd von Liesen and Ulrich Brandl (eds.), Römische Keramik. Herstellung und Handel. Kolloquium Xanten, 15.-17.6.2000: 77-106.
Related Resources for Catalog
(skos:related) http://atlantides.org/batlas/phocaea-56-d4
(skos:related) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phocaea
These links provide well-known identifiers for concepts appearing in this catalog.