Urkesh Ceramic Analysis

Categorization / Lexicon / Wares / 3rd-2nd mill.

Fine Chaff Temper Ware (FC)

Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati – April 2006
Laerke Recht – May 2016

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General Description

Fine Chaff tempered vessels are similar to Chaff Temper wares, however the vessels are much finer and thinner walled. The chaff-temper in these vessels is smaller and finer than in CH sherds. Other mineral temper, such as sand can be included as well. These sherds usually have a buff color although sometimes they can have a gray-green or orange tint.

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Characteristics

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Phase 3 - EDII/ED III

Few vessels made in this ware were produced in this phase.

Firing

Low fired ceramics were characteristic for this ware in Phase 3.

Surface Treatment

Green-buff self slip.

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Phase 3 Sherd Illustrations

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Exteriors

J5q912-p34

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Interiors

J5q912-p34

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Phase 4 - Akkadian

Basis for Definition

Small amounts from Areas AK, F1, and strata above AK. This ware is a common type for small and medium forms of bowls and jars in Phase 4.

Identifying Attributes

Chaff and some calcite on the surface, wet smoothed, medium fire, shapes include small bowls, conical cups, a few types of small jar shapes. Buff type clay related to CH but FC vessels are finer, thinner walled and smaller shapes than CH ware. The reddish clay is related to RC but RC tends to have more calcite inclusions and less chaff. The FC clay tends to be more compact.

Paste Color

Buff to green buff or reddish-brown. The reddish brown clay tends more prominently to be used for the conical cup shapes. However conical cups are also made in the buff clay.

Temper

proportionately most vessels have a lot of fine chaff temper for these thin walled shapes. Chaff temper is small and sub-round in shape; some shapes have little chaff temper but larger shapes have more of these inclusions. A few of the finer shapes have little temper. Some medium-gray lithic temper can be added. In general in transitioning from middle Akkadian to late Akkadian, chaff inclusions became slightly less frequent and sand inclusions slightly more frequent. In some vessels the chaff temper is evenly distributed but in others this is not the case. Very small and thin vessels were always produced with a small amount of tiny chaff in this phase and later.
Some sand, some calcite; inclusions evenly distributed.

Firing

Medium.

Firing Cloud

None.

Carbon core Does occur but rarely.
Wall Thickness

Less than 1 cm.

Shapes
  • Rougher conical cups with string cut bases.

  • Small bowls with straight or slightly incurving rims

  • Small jars.

  • Pots.

  • Surface Treatment

    Wet smoothed but leaving a rough exterior.

    Decoration

    Painted decoration rare.

    Distribution

    Medium frequency in third millennium levels.

    Comments

    This ware is related to RC1 but has a buff to green-buff color while the RC1 ceramics are made from an iron rich clay and therefore have a reddish-brown or reddish-pink color. Examples of this ware were called conical cup ware (CC) in the earliest seasons.

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    Phase 4 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A9q338-p2

    A9q627-p1

    A9q627-p3

    A9q640-p6

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    Interiors

    A9q338-p2

    A9q627-p1

    A9q627-p3

    A9q640-p6

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    Sections

    A9q338-p2

    A9q627-p1

    A9q627-p3

    A9q640-p6

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    Phase 5 - UrIII/Isin-Larsa

    Temper

    Chaff temper about evenly distributed between long narrow and sub-round chaff holes; this is the predominant temper type. A little calcite in some shapes but gray and orange lithic temper also found.

    Firing

    Usually medium fired but can be high fired; there are more examples with a carbon core than in Phase 4.

    Color

    Clay is predominantly gray-green firing; fewer examples can be orange-brown.

    Surface Treatment

    More tendency to leave both the interior and exterior surfaces rough than in Phase 4.

    Decoration

    Ribs on bodies and on top of rims do occur.

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    Phase 5 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A16q796-p4

    A16q874-p8

    A16q871-p4

    A16q897-p12

    A16q893-p13

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    Interiors

    A16q796-p4

    A16q874-p8

    A16q871-p4

    A16q897-p12

    A16q893-p13

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    Sections

    A16q796-p4

    A16q874-p8

    A16q871-p4

    A16q897-p12

    A16q874-p14

    A16q780-p8

    A16q889-p1

    A16q893-p13

    A16q900-p1

    A16q883-p4

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    Phase 6 - Khabur

    Temper

    As in other Phase 6 wares there is a large amount of added sand (usually dark-gray but with other colors also) making the texture gritty. Little calcite along with the sand. Chaff shown in sub-round holes in finer shapes; in larger shapes both sub-round and long narrow shapes but even in these, sub-round holes predominate. In this phase vessels made earlier with much chaff temper now are produced with little chaff and more sand; this pattern of inclusions is prominent in small to medium bowls and jars but occurred in all shapes independent of their function.

    Firing

    Firing tends to be higher than earlier FC ware vessels.

    Color

    Green-buff firing clay most common but clay can be orange-buff or red-orange, especially in larger shapes.

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    Phase 6 Sherd Illustrations

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    Phase 7 - Mittani

    Temper

    In smaller, thinner shapes and goblets small sub-round chaff holes; medium and large shapes can have both sub-round and long narrow chaff holes. Even in small, thin shapes the calcite is medium in size and so quite large for the thickness of the body wall; can have rehydrated calcite on the surface of even thin walled painted forms. Some dark gray sand.

    Color

    Both gray-green and red-orange firing clay.

    Surface Treatment

    Many goblets and small pots are painted.

    Wall Thickness

    Most around 0.5cm thick.

    Shapes

    Small thin walled shapes predominate (including goblets and small pots).

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    Phase 7 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    J2q304-p6
    Interiors

    J2q304-p6
    Sections

    J2q304-p6

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    Phase 8 - Middle Assyrian

    Temper

    Large amount of large calcite nodules.

    Firing

    Medium fired, since these shapes are thin walled there is no carbon core.

    Surface Treatment

    Thick buff-brown slip on both the exterior and interior.

    Wall Thickness

    Usually around 0.5cm.

    Shapes

    Most shapes made in this ware are thinner and smaller.

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