POTTERY FROM CULTURE I, NORTH KURGAN. 131 
might very easily have gotten by accident into the middle layers. Taken as a 
whole, group c belongs decidedly to the lower and lowest strata of the northern 
kurgan. 
Technique.—The fragments of group c were so characteristic and deviated so 
widely in their technique from those of group a, that upon their first appearance 
they were at once regarded as something special. Their clay is especially well 

washed, almost always light-brown, having very rarely reddish shade, and very 
firm and hard-burnt. ‘Traces of the potters’ wheel were not observed, and as 
hand-work the vessels are excellent achievements. On the surface there is a 
very thin, fine, light-brown or light reddish-brown color-slip. A noticeable fact is 
the absence of all polish, the surface remaining dull and mat (see plate 22). 
