Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/389

 GAULISH FORTRESSES ON THE COAST OF BRITTANY. 325 wore examined a great number of larger stones of a round form, but which appeared to be too large to be used Yitli a sling, although they may have been intended to be thrown by hand against the enemy, XIX. — An immense number of fragments of hand-made pottery, as various in form as in the quality of the earth of whi(h they had been made. They may be divided into three groups. (1.) Vases of considerable dimensions, from 15 to 20 centimetres across, and in height from 0*25 centimetre to 035 centimetre. They are made of coarse clay contain- ing little silicious pebbles, and are badly baked. They are of various colours, grey, brown, and reddish, all three colours sometimes being foinid in the same vase. The bottom is flat and thick, and sh'ghtly projecting, and bearing all round it marks of the pressure of the thumb in joining it more flrmly to the body of the vase. Some of them have a spheroidal form, with a pattern formed by the impression of a finger or nail, surmounted by a short neck. The neck is frequently surrounded by one or two projecting fillets marked by oblique impressions, so as to give the appearance of a twisted i-ope. Others more or less resemble the form termed ollaire, and that called pof-d-fteur. They terminate with straight or slightly curved limbs, which are ornamented either with fingermarks or by oblique lines, which in some instances are crossed by others, thus forming the cross of Saint Andrew. (See fig. 4.) None of these vases had any traces of a handle. (2.) Vases of a small or moderate size, of fine clay well baked, without traces of silicious particles, with a few excep- tions, where they exist in very minute quantities. These ■were also liand-made, but made with great care by means of stone or wood implements, which have left, both on the inside and outside, numerous traces of their employment. Some of these are of brown or grey earth, frequentl}"^ covered with a black coating called rcrnis dc (frnphitc, being appa- rently produced by black lead, and which readily disap])ears by washing. Others again are of a more delicate material and reildish colour, and, if di"y rubbed, exhibit a brilliant red j)atina, not imlike some kinils of Saniian ware. These vases are, for the most part, cups with receding stands and pro- jecting brims, and some of them are not more than 4 cen- timetres deep, with diameters from 8 to 25 centimetres.