Fantzuyuan Culture colored pottery
Pottery of the Fantzuyuan Culture is mainly gray black pottery. Gray brown pottery and orange red pottery have been discovered as well. The variations in color are due to differences in temperature and duration of firing, as well as firing methods. In general, it is believed that prehistoric pottery in Taiwan was fired at temperatures of between 500 and 800oC. The texture is rough and not dense. It is also believed that firing was done outdoors. A shallow pit or trough was made in the ground, into which the items to be fired, already dried in the shade, were placed. Then, branches were placed all around, and finally covered with straw. During the firing process, a large amount of carbon monoxide was produced in the pit, which underwent reduction, resulting in carburization and black pottery. The methods of firing pottery outdoors during the prehistoric era led to poor control of duration and temperature. Therefore, inconsistencies in the color of pottery were produced. The production of black pottery was the result of new pottery making methods of the time or new preferences of this culture.
Gray brown pottery fragment
Collection serial no.: CS．SKW-2015-PT620
Description: Short-neck, open mouth jar fragment
Dimensions: Mouth diameter 225 mm, fragment weight 176.8 g, thickness 6.0 mm.
Material: Pressed fine clay gray brown pottery.
Condition: 1/3 rim fragment, belly damaged, composite reconstruction.
Orange red pottery fragment
Collection serial no.: CS．SKW-2015-PT632
Description: Short-neck, open mouth jar fragment
Dimensions: Mouth diameter 120mm, fragment weight 190.2 g, thickness 8.6 mm.
Material: Pressed fine sand orange red pottery.
Condition: 1/3 rim fragment, belly damaged.
Black pottery fragment
Description: Short neck, open mouth jar fragment
Dimensions: Fragment weight 119.8 g, thickness 6.0mm.
Material: Pressed fine sand clay black pottery.
Condition: 1/3 rim fragment, belly damaged, composite reconstruction.
