This small, round-bottomed pot has a globular body with a slightly flared grey mouthrim. The black smudges around the mouthrim is the result of the pot coming into contact with burning fuel during the firing. The pot was made of coils of clay which were joined and paddle beaten for added strength. The paddle beaten texture extends from the shoulder. The site of Ban Chiang was first discovered in 1957. Pottery was found with skeletal remains, glass beads as well as iron and bronze bracelets. Early Period pottery consisted mainly of ceramic vessels in ring-based or pedestalled forms. Decorations were mostly abstract geometric and curvilinear shapes divided into bands across the vessel.Painted vessels such as this were probably not used as everyday ware in the Ban Chiang culture. These vessels were probably used as burial jars to contain either food or objects for the decesaed in their afterlife.
