Dr. Kevin MacDonald

So either there is some source for intact statues without abraded surfaces, somewhere that the archaeologists are missing, or as cat scans have shown, these are restored, shall we say. That's probably the most generous term we can give to them. They have been restored. There's no doubt that they're complex. There's no doubt that they're every bit as... amazing, whether fragmentary or not.

So either there is some source for intact statues without abraded surfaces, somewhere that the archaeologists are missing, or as cat scans have shown, these are restored, shall we say. That's probably the most generous term we can give to them. They have been restored. There's no doubt that they're complex. There's no doubt that they're every bit as... amazing, whether fragmentary or not.

I mean, these restorations are very much true to reimagining the tradition as it's attested to by these objects. But I suspect if you have a perfect and complete terracotta, that some restoration has taken place. Because the actual paste, I mean, I've seen and handled a good number of not terracottas myself over the years. And the paste is very gritty.

I mean, these restorations are very much true to reimagining the tradition as it's attested to by these objects. But I suspect if you have a perfect and complete terracotta, that some restoration has taken place. Because the actual paste, I mean, I've seen and handled a good number of not terracottas myself over the years. And the paste is very gritty.

I mean, these restorations are very much true to reimagining the tradition as it's attested to by these objects. But I suspect if you have a perfect and complete terracotta, that some restoration has taken place. Because the actual paste, I mean, I've seen and handled a good number of not terracottas myself over the years. And the paste is very gritty.

In order to get the smooth look that you see on a lot of the published museum pieces, they have to be sort of refinished and burnished. Now, I imagine some coming out. Well, I don't have to. I know that some are coming out of the ground in better condition than others. But yes, so you can't take the museum displayed objects always at face value.

In order to get the smooth look that you see on a lot of the published museum pieces, they have to be sort of refinished and burnished. Now, I imagine some coming out. Well, I don't have to. I know that some are coming out of the ground in better condition than others. But yes, so you can't take the museum displayed objects always at face value.

In order to get the smooth look that you see on a lot of the published museum pieces, they have to be sort of refinished and burnished. Now, I imagine some coming out. Well, I don't have to. I know that some are coming out of the ground in better condition than others. But yes, so you can't take the museum displayed objects always at face value.

But that said, just to add something here, we do know that they are being built in some senses like pottery. They're being coil built. So just like if you're – this isn't the case with every pottery tradition. A lot of pottery traditions use molded – particularly bases for their pottery and so on.

But that said, just to add something here, we do know that they are being built in some senses like pottery. They're being coil built. So just like if you're – this isn't the case with every pottery tradition. A lot of pottery traditions use molded – particularly bases for their pottery and so on.

But that said, just to add something here, we do know that they are being built in some senses like pottery. They're being coil built. So just like if you're – this isn't the case with every pottery tradition. A lot of pottery traditions use molded – particularly bases for their pottery and so on.

But if you or I or anyone were learning pottery making in some class, you'd probably start by making these sort of snakes or these coils of pottery and building them up and shaping them. And that's what's happening. If you look inside or, again, use some sort of CAT scan on these statues, what you find is that they're hollow in the interior.

But if you or I or anyone were learning pottery making in some class, you'd probably start by making these sort of snakes or these coils of pottery and building them up and shaping them. And that's what's happening. If you look inside or, again, use some sort of CAT scan on these statues, what you find is that they're hollow in the interior.

But if you or I or anyone were learning pottery making in some class, you'd probably start by making these sort of snakes or these coils of pottery and building them up and shaping them. And that's what's happening. If you look inside or, again, use some sort of CAT scan on these statues, what you find is that they're hollow in the interior.

In some senses, this is statuary meeting pottery technology. Once built up into some more tubular form, they're then worked and perhaps also added to, like pottery would be added to. With pottery, you have things you might add to them that are called, at least archaeologically, nubbins or fillets or pieces of clay that you cut out and then stick on. That's also happening.

In some senses, this is statuary meeting pottery technology. Once built up into some more tubular form, they're then worked and perhaps also added to, like pottery would be added to. With pottery, you have things you might add to them that are called, at least archaeologically, nubbins or fillets or pieces of clay that you cut out and then stick on. That's also happening.

In some senses, this is statuary meeting pottery technology. Once built up into some more tubular form, they're then worked and perhaps also added to, like pottery would be added to. With pottery, you have things you might add to them that are called, at least archaeologically, nubbins or fillets or pieces of clay that you cut out and then stick on. That's also happening.

Yes. But if you had to say, this is being very rough, but of their structure, I would say no more than 50% is hollow. So they're quite thick, but I would say about half of their interior is just too deep space.

Yes. But if you had to say, this is being very rough, but of their structure, I would say no more than 50% is hollow. So they're quite thick, but I would say about half of their interior is just too deep space.

Yes. But if you had to say, this is being very rough, but of their structure, I would say no more than 50% is hollow. So they're quite thick, but I would say about half of their interior is just too deep space.