Vat

Large vat with straight profile; slightly thickened rim; beveled base; tube spout (d. 7cm.; length 13 cm.) at base of wall, slanting down below the base, joined to the wall by two handles; horizontal handle at base opposite spout. Coarse, unevenly colored clay, mostly light brown (7.5 YR 6/4), with light and dark inclusions. Wiped with water, smoothed more on the interior than the exterior. Restored from fragments; some sherds missing. Vats with drains are common in Minoan Crete. They were surely used in the preparation of wine, olive oil, dyed wool, and/ or other household industries. This type of vat first appeared in EM II (Warren 1972: pl. 56A-B, from Myrtos). Parallels include Hawes et al. 1908: pl. 1, no. 14 (Gournia); Chapouthier and Demargne 1942; fig. 24 (Mallia); Platon 1960: pl. 239 (Profetes Elias Tourtoulon); Platon 1961: pl. 174B (Kato Zakros); Platon 1963: 164 and pl. 142A (Kato Zakros); Platon 1965: 218-219 and pl. 247A (Epano Zakros); Platon 1974: pl. on p. 195 and Marinatos and Hirmer 1976: pl. 62 (Vathypetro). This particular example was found in House D, room 30, in situ on a raised stone platform positioned so that a vessel could be placed below the drain (Hawes et al. 1908: 27, fig. 11).