ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a chronological analysis of the ceramic material from excavations at Merv. While numismatic evidence suggested a Sasanian date for the occupational levels of the buildings revealed, the pottery assemblages appeared to contain chronologically diverse material. Examining the variations with the help of the archaeological evidence on Merv resulted in a chronological interpretation and built the first steps towards a pottery sequence. The stylistic assessment focused on vessel forms attributed to the Sasanian period and sought to visualise the distinct phases in the development of the pottery as exemplified by the individual shape groups contributing to the various configurations of the 'Pie-slice' analysis. The early Sasanian pottery forms are closely linked to the pottery style of northern Bactria, the neighbouring territory to the east. Some Middle Sasanian forms, such as the double-handled jar or the jar with perforated neck, appear already disconnected from this phenomenon and no eastern parallels are found for any of the Late Sasanian vessels.
