EXCAVATIONS AND FINDS AT THE SOUTH KURGAN. 109 
runner of the newly discovered culture. In the meantime we had reached a 
depth requiring the formation of a terrace, thus restricting the work to the central 
portion of the excavation. 
At the level of +35.75 feet, near the east wall of the excavation, we came 
upon the lip of a pithos (a) standing in situ; and still deeper, between +32 feet 
and +29 feet, occurred several copper objects (a razor, a dagger-blade, and a 
needle-shaped implement). At the level of +29 feet another terrace was formed. 
At this depth, on the west side of the excavation, there appeared the broken 
lips of two pithoi (b, c) and somewhat deeper a well-preserved copper sickle, 
a glazed spinbob, and a pithos (6), also a smaller but well-preserved pithos (d). 
After locating and removing these pithoi we reached the level of +21 feet 2 inches, 
at which depth shaft C was started for study of the deeper layers (figs. 36 to 38). 
The examination of 
the pithoi yielded the fol- 
lowing results: As pithos 
a had been crushed by the 
earth pressure, and pre- 
served only as a pile of 
fragments, its original 
height was indeterminable. 
Pithos b was embed- 
ded in the western wall. 
It, too, had been separated 
into several fragments, 
but was sufficiently pre- 
served to be photographed. 
Its lip had been broken off, 
but different pieces were 
foundin theinterior. The 
diameter was 20 to 24 
inches (see fig. 39). 
Pithos ¢ stood partly Fig. 41.—Pithos d in Upper Digging. 
in the southern wall of 
the excavation. It, too, had lost its lip, but otherwise it was better preserved 
than pithos 6. Diameter 25 inches; height 31.5 inches (see fig. 40). 
Pithos d stood a little lower and near pithos 6, but it belongs to the same 
layer. It differs in form from the barrel-shaped a to c, and has a narrow mouth, 
with a flaring lip, the opening being 4.5 inches, the circumference 39.5 inches, 
and the height 15 inches (see fig. 41). In clay and technique all four pithoi 
belonged to the best ceramic product. They were made on the wheel; a is red- 
toned; b to d are light greenish-white or dead yellow. 
As regards the remaining ceramic finds, as the excavations progressed between 
+37 feet 7 inches and +21 feet 2 inches, uniform culture layers, with fragments 
of group 5, were disclosed. Only the different positions of the pithoi indicate 
the relative age. Since the lower edge of the wall mentioned above lies at +37 

