ABSTRACT
“Chlorite” small vessels are numerous but they mostly come from illegal excavations. In the absence of clear petrographic and chemical studies on the stone material used to make them, one has to turn to the decoration to identify the proveniences and dates. From the discoveries made in Oman and in the Halil Rud area, two different styles have been recognized. An analysis of the decoration on the Bactria-Margiana Archaeological Complex (BMAC) vessels shows a specific geometric (rarely figurative) style related to the local taste, albeit with some borrowings (reinterpreted) to neighbor areas, but this does not exclude the presence of foreign skilled craftsmen to make them. The finds show that these vessels did not travel much outside of the BMAC but this chapter raises the question of their content, obviously highly prized, and of the trade of cosmetic products. An appendix to the chapter presents the chlorite and talc known sources in Central Asia.
