The Middle Neolithic painted wares constitute the first successful mass production by Neolithic man. Two colours were used, white on a red backround, and red on light, as on the basin here. The decorative motifs, basically variations of the zigzag line, are endless (triangle, saw tooth, flame tooth, rhomb, ladder) and are developed in fine harmony with the beautiful shapes of the vases. From Sesklo 5800-5300 BC.

 Bowl of the Classical Dimini style. Late Neolithic II 4800-4500 B.C.

Painted vase from Lianoklathi in Phthiotis. Late Middle Neolithic Period. 5800 - 5300 B.C. National Archaeological Museum of Athens.

Sesklo. Storage jar with four handles. Beginning Late Neolithic Period. 5300 B.C. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Sesklo. Painted bowl. Late Neolithic II 4800-4500 B.C. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Large clay pitcher from Orchomenos in Boeotia. Bronze Age period.

Two colour painted pot. From Sesklo 5800-5300 BC. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Two colour painted pot. From Sesklo 5800-5300 BC. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

The monochrome pots are a direct continuation of those of the Early Neolithic. There is however, a perceptible improvement in the firing technique, which now easily produces red tones, in the variety of shapes, and in quality, with pots with thin walls. From Sesklo. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

A stamp on the top of a large spool. The cylindrical body is also full of incisions, perhaps ideograms in early writing. From Sesklo Thessaly. Late or Final Neolithic period (5300-3300 BC.). Donation of Georgios Tsolozidis. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Of the Early Neolithic period. The settlement lasted from the Early Neolithic to the early phases of the Late Neolithic period (5900-5300 BC.). The earliest finds belong to an advanced phase of Neolithic production. Predominant in the Middle Neolithic are pots painted with red on a light ground. In the Late Neolithic I phase, the black burnished ware of the Larisa style and the polychrome painted wares appear. National Archaeological Museum of Athens

Of the Early Neolithic period. Halai. National Archaeological Museum of Athens