Jar · Predynastic
Naqada black-topped jar
4000–3200 BCE, Naqada
The Naqada black-topped jar is the hand-built red-polished jar with a blackened rim of Predynastic Upper Egypt, about 4,000 to 3,200 BCE, Petrie's B-ware. The black top was produced by inverting the vessel in ash or smothering it during firing. It is the commonest Predynastic pottery in collections.
| Object | Jar |
|---|---|
| Dates | 4000–3200 BCE |
| Period | Predynastic |
| Cultures | Naqada |
| Regions | Egypt & Nile Valley |
Diagnostic traits
Hand-built red-polished jar whose rim was blackened by inverting it in ash during firing; Petrie's B-ware.
Identification
The red-polished body with a sharp black band at the rim and no painted decoration distinguishes it from white cross-lined and decorated wares; forms are tall jars and beakers. Nile silt fabric is fine. Black-topped ware fades out in Naqada III.
Reproductions and fakes
Reproduced in Luxor and sold widely; fakes have a painted rather than fired black band and no surface wear. Genuine vessels show polish striations and salt encrustation.
Cite this article
Stratum Strata. "Naqada black-topped jar" (Artifact type). Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21. https://stratum.black/strata/types/naqada-black-topped-jar. Accessed 2026-09-21.
@misc{stratum-naqada-black-topped-jar,
title = {Naqada black-topped jar},
author = {{Stratum Strata}},
howpublished = {\url{https://stratum.black/strata/types/naqada-black-topped-jar}},
year = {2026},
note = {Artifact type article, Stratum Strata pack 2026.09, as of 2026-09-21; sources: stratum, commons. Accessed 2026-09-21.}
} Citations carry the pack version and the article's as-of date so they resolve to the same text later. The facts themselves belong to the sources listed below; cite those for the science.