Fragment of a pottery vessel

The finds of Max Mallowan, who excavated at Nineveh from 1931-32, resulted in the first attempt to establish a chronological scheme for prehistoric Assyria. Mallowan distinguished five levels covering 3,500 years, which he named Ninevite 1 to 5, from top to bottom. This fragment dates to Ninevite 5 (about 2900-2550 BC). This level is characterized by vessels on a foot, bowls painted with animal and other patterns (as here), or pottery made of fine grey ware adorned with incised and indented patterns.