Two sherds of pottery

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These two sherds of pottery were found at the site of the Neolithic Village at Skara Brae in Orkney. They are part of a pottery tradition termed 'Grooved Ware'. The pot dates from between 3100 and 2400 BC.

The sherds, probably part of one pot, are decorated with applied pellets above and below three horizontal strips. The strips were made by applying a thick strip, then dividing it into three by scoring out two deep grooves.

By 3000 BC a new form of pottery, called 'Grooved Ware', appears in Scotland. Pots were decorated with incised lines in geometric patterns, often with applied strips of clay. Examples have been found at ceremonial and settlement sites throughout Britain.

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-562-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.HA 196 H
• Date: 3100 - 2400 BC
  3100 - 2400 BC
  Between 3100 and 2400 BC
  
• Material: Ceramic; ext. pink to brick red, int. black; three strips, three pellets in upper row, two in lower (one broken off)
  Ceramic; ext. pink to buff, int. black; three strips, two pellets one above the other; wide plain zone
  Pottery / sherd
  Pottery / sherd
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Pottery / sherd
  Pottery / sherd
  
• Subject: Pottery
  Pottery
  
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Orkney, Skaill, Skara Brae
  Scotland, Orkney, Skaill, Skara Brae
  
• Event:
• Description: Sherd of pottery, from 'grooved ware' pot, decorated with applied pellets above and below three horizontal strips, from Skara Brae, between 3100 and 2400 BC
  Sherd of pottery, from 'grooved ware' pot, decorated with applied pellets above and below three horizontal strips, from Skara Brae, between 3100 and 2400 BC
  
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