General Information

Red Polished Philia ware (RPP) is the predominant type of pottery during the Early Cypriot/Philia period. It is very distinct ware, made in a consistent range of shapes and all covered with a highly lustrous red surfaces, and the regular presence of burnishing marks. Petrographic and INAA (Stephen 1998a, 141-144) on samples coming from various sites dated to the Philia period have indicated a chemical differentiation between samples from different sites, suggesting that despite the similarity of forms and finish around the entirety of Cyprus, there were nonetheless multiple local workshops.

A detailed set of analyses using petrography, ED-XRF and SEM-EDS has identified at least four different petro-fabrics. A common recipe is used for the production of all fabrics, which includes the use of fine clays, vegetal temper, and low firing temperatures, which did not exceed 750-800ºC. 

Study of vessel distribution by petro-fabric has shown that one of these accounts for some 75% of all the RPP ware vessels analyzed. This Fabric I is calcareous, with a prominence of metamorphic rocks and rarity of igneous inclusions, indications that the raw material resources were not in the vicinity of the Troodos pillow lavas. This Fabric I is further characterised by a distinct presence of chert and other quartzitic inclusions, which are not found in any of the other fabrics analyzed. Various aspects of distribution suggest that one or more production centers were located either in the Ovgos valley or on the north coast.

The other three petro-fabrics all contain igneous components, mainly in the form of basalts, which suggests that the raw materials for production were collected from the vicinity of the Troodos pillow lavas, where basalts are the most common rocks. 

Differing production locales notwithstanding, the ceramic uniformity of RPP ware vessels is remarkable, and likely due to two factors: the employment of a common recipe for the production of almost identical pottery across the island, and the existence of a large-scale distribution network directed by a specific center or cluster of centers across the island. Both presuppose a regular flow of interaction even between topographically disparate regions of Cyprus.*

The above description was adapted from Dikomitou 2010.

Fine medium-soft yellowish brown fabric (predominantly 10YR6/4, 10YR5/4), usually with a thick dark grey core and few to medium black, white and occasionally red inclusions and vegetable filler. Most vessels have an evenly polished red slip (predominantly 2.5YR4/6 or 2.5YR5/6). Varieties include vessels with incised often lime-filled geometric decoration, black interiors and/or partially or fully black exteriors, irregular burnishing and pattern or band burnishing.

Kyra, Kaminia (Cyprus/Kyrenia Mountains and North Coast)

Marki Alonia (Cyprus/Western Mesoria)

Marki Davari (Cyprus/Western Mesoria)

Nicosia, Ayia Paraskevi (Cyprus/Western Mesoria)

Philia Vasiliko (Cyprus/Western Mesoria)

Vasilia (Cyprus/Kyrenia Mountains and North Coast)