The Indus Civilization c9.17

c9.17

Handles on the pottery are very rare; they appear either as a flat perforated lug or as a loop over the top, the former being found on small cups and the latter on beakers. This lack of handles must not, however, be regarded as primitive; handled vessels are known in very early times in both Egypt and Babylonia and, after falling out of use for a considerable period, they reappeared at a much later date. The spouted pottery of Babylonia does not occur in the Indus valley except for several feeding-cups with spouts obviously intended for small children; similar cups of the same date and shape have also come to light in Sumer. Little jars with very narrow openings were undoubtedly made to hold black eye-paint, and were made in bronze as well as pottery.