Generally, the delicate banded ware (BDW) in Priene is associated with middle Hellenistic contexts of the 3rd and 2nd century BCE (see LCP ware "Hellenistic Delicate Banded Ware").
While more frequently occuring as an imported fabric (see LCP fabric "Delicate Banded Ware, original"), there seems to be a certain amount of local/regional "imitations" of this ware. However, these are almost never living up to the quality of the imported group (coarser matrix, less hard and slighty thicker walls). The shapes follow those of the imported vessels (drinking bowls, occasionally lidded bowls).
Less hard and brittle than "original" DBW fabric (i.e. imports of a homogeneous fabric at Priene). The ceramic body is generally micaceous and – although mostly relatively fine – more frequently shows inclusions of a wide range of colors (white, dark, reddish) with the naked eye and especially with a handheld magnifier. Under high magnification, these inclusions are not clearly identifiable, yet some of them appear to be calcareous. This was tested in the field with HCl, to which the sherds reacted positively. A relatively high content of Ca has additionally been confirmed with a preliminary portable XRF study (5-15%). Yet, substantial tempering with lime was not visible during the thin section analysis (see below), indicating that the clay matrix itself might be rather calcareous. The nature of the occasionally visible white inclusions thus remains to be unknown. Voids in the matrix are larger and more frequent than in Fabric A. The range of colors for this fabric covers 5YR 6/6 to 7.5YR 6/6 and thus falls within the spectrum of colors frequently attested within the local/regional production of Priene.
Petrographic information:
Muscovite and biotite are very frequent (max. 0,4 .mm; avg. 0.2 mm); quartz (max. 0.2 mm; avg. 0.16 mm) and iron-rich inclusions (max. 0.8 mm; avg. 0.4 mm) are common; in Pri671, a foliated metamorphic rock (length: 0.6 mm) formed of quartz, muscovite and biotite (probably mica schist) can be identified. The matrix is non-calcareous and shows a low optical activity. Voids are rare and display channel-like shape.
Generally, the delicate banded ware (BDW) in Priene is associated with middle Hellenistic contexts of the 3rd and 2nd century BCE (see LCP ware "Hellenistic Delicate Banded Ware").
While more frequently occuring as an imported fabric (see LCP fabric "Delicate Banded Ware, original"), there seems to be a certain amount of local/regional "imitations" of this ware. However, these are almost never living up to the quality of the imported group (coarser matrix, less hard and slighty thi...
No kilns have been identified in Priene so far. Therefore, a clear identification with the local clays is not possible so far. However, Fabric B shows various macroscopic similarities with what we currently believe to be the locally produced fabric of Priene (Fenn 2016, 200–210). This includes the color of the matrix, the slightly calcareous nature of the clay and the high amount of micaceous and reddish inclusions. The landscape around Priene is dominated my mica schist, of which at least one rock fragment has been identified during petrography while the rest of the potential local/regional group shows the abundancy of minerals associated with this type of rock.
