Appendix Six. Graffiti on the Wooden Serving Stands from Tumulus MM
in The Gordion Wooden Objects, Volume 1 The Furniture from Tumulus MM (2-vol. set)Search for other papers by Lynn E. Roller in
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Both of the two large wooden serving stands with inlaid decoration from Tumulus MM have several tenons that were incised with graffiti. In order to understand the relationship of the graffiti to the serving stands, it is useful to review briefly how these tenons functioned in the construction of the stands. Some of the tenons were separate pieces of wood that were inserted into mortises cut into two adjoining panels, while others were formed from the wood of the individual boards, appearing as tabs that extended from the ends of the panels. All of the visible graffiti occur on the tenons that extended from the ends of the wooden panels; none appears on a separate or "free" tenon. A total of 12 tenons now show graffiti. Seven such tenons have been noted on serving stand A and three on serving stand B.