General Information

To date, the only work dedicated exclusively to the so-called ‘Mareotic Incised Pottery’ is the article published by Rodziewicz in 1986. Majcherek provided further insights in his studies on pottery from Marea/Philoxenite. Additionally, Julie Marchand presented various examples of the ware in her lecture on pottery from Taposiris, delivered at the conference ‘Marea/Northern Hawwariya in Context’ (2022).

Unfortunately, we still lack sufficient information to suggest precise dating for the components of this ware. Findings from Marea have been dated between the late 6th and early 8th centuries. Some sherds were found in the tower of the Old Baramus, in a layer of windblown sand underneath a mud floor (Ba/Ga). Unfortunately, this layer was disturbed by the constant reclamation processes that took place after the abandonment of this building. Other examples have been found near the main church of the Monastery of Apa Apollo in Bawit, in late 8th-early 9th century contexts. 

‘Mareotic Incised Pottery’ is not very common; it is mainly found in Alexandria and the neighbouring regions, including Taposiris/Plinthine, Marea/Philoxenite, Kellia and Wadi al-Natrun. However, a few examples have been found further south, such as in Naqlun and Bawit. 

Mareotic Incised Pottery is made of calcareous Mareotic fabric, which is medium-fine, with a generally regular fracture. The colour of the break is usually homogeneous, ranging from red to orange-red and buff-brown (2.5YR 5/ 6, red – 5YR 5/ 6, yellowish red). The fabric mainly contains white particles (lime), black and red particles of various sizes and shapes; medium-sized, rounded quartz, very small, rounded mica and rarely straw. The surface appears light-coloured, yellow, or creamy, due to the mineral salts contained in the fabric.

Various open and closed forms were decorated with gouged geometric motifs. The exterior of the closed vessels was often divided into several zones decorated with hatched triangular patterns and small triangular or leaf-shaped incisions, combined with rows of parallel or diagonal lines.

Wadi el-Natrun (Egypt/Western desert)