Page 306 - Life & Land Use on the Bahrain Islands (Curtis E Larsen)

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from this same surface site are the Chinese-influenced rim form 65d-g and two-
piece jug handles as illustrated in Figure 65k. The limited time range apparently
indicated by this form may make it a useful marker for future reference.
Other fine wares occur within the medieval Islamic levels. For example,
thin glazed bowls, represented by Figure 65h and i, are found in Level III5 in Pit 1.
The fine buff ware jar 66g comes from the same general position. The character of
the fine wares changes higher in the sequence. In Level C of the Profile Pit three
new styles appear. These are shown by Figures 66h—j. Stra^‘graphically, they are
found at a distinct ceramic change in Figure 55. Figure 66h illustrates thin clay
ribbons applied to narrow incised jar necks. Perhaps related to this jar is the
molded ware shown in Figure 66j. A final example of medieval fine ware is shown
in Figure 66i. This sherd exhibits a combination of pricked and incised designs.
Each of these three examples is formed of a cream- or bisquit-colored ware
different from the buff wares described above. There are no immediate parallels
ascribed to these ceramic types. There is no clear connection with De Cardi's
Islamic collections from Musandam or the Trucial Coast (De Cardi 1971, 1975).
Personal communications with D. Whitcomb and examination of his collections
from Oman and Hofuf shed little light on the identification of these forms. A
possible connection may exist with a variety of molded wares that were popular in
the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries (Lane 1957). Because of the occurrence of
these bisquit-colored fine wares in a single level (Level C), they may eventually
provide excellent temporal markers in the gulf.

Miscellaneous Wares
Several noteable rim forms occur in Level C. These lie stratigraphic ally above the
Chinese-influenced rims discussed earlier and were not noted below Level C. Tbey
are represented by bowls 66a, c, and d, and jar 66L The first represents a green-
glazed buff ware bowl without decoration. The others are unglazed. Bowl 66c
shows the greatest decoration of the group. It is marked by horizontally incised
lines which are cut, in turn, by vertical wedge-shaped incisions. Of this group, only
jar 661 can be identified elsewhere. Whitcomb (1978, Plate 3, no. 5) shows a similar
form with his Middle Islamic assemblage from Hofuf.