Urkesh Ceramic Analysis

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

Red Orange Calcite Temper Ware (RC)

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

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General Description

Red Orange Calcite Temper Ware is mainly identified by its calcite temper and red-orange to light orange clay. Chaff temper is also present as well as sand. RC is distinguished from the Chaff Temper wares by the color, and the presence of larger quantities of of calcite and a more porous consistency.

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Characteristics

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Phase 3 - ED II/EDIII

Temper

Much chaff.

Surface Treatment

Green-buff slip on exterior and sometimes on the interior.

Shapes

Many thicker walled shapes

Comments

This ware begins to be used in ED IIIb but probably was already in existence for a few small shapes in ED IIIa.

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Phase 3 Sherd Illustrations

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Phase 4 - Akkadian

Basis for Definition

Most examples found in the late Akkadian and especially Phase 5 (UrIII/Isin-Larsa) of Area AA.

Identifying Attributes

Much calcite temper (some of it large), red-orange to light orange clay.

Temper

Much calcite both on surface and in section, some mica temper and sand. All vessels, especially larger vessels, have chaff temper; these inclusions of small sub-round chaff are for the most part evenly distributed. RC ware is distinguished from CH ware by the large amount of calcite temper and the red firing clay and a more porous consistency. .

Firing

Medium to high. A "sandwich" effect from the firing temperature and duration is lighter on the portions of the section near the exterior and interior surfaces and darker in the center of the section; the reverse of this color pattern in the section is also possible. Thick shapes sometimes have a carbon core.

Color

Red-orange, light orange, to tan. Some examples of medium gray color.

Wall Thickness

5mm-2cm, but rarely as thick as 2.5 cm.

Shapes
  • Open bowls.

  • Small bowls

  • Medium jars.

  • Large jars (rarely).

  • In later third millennium examples of conical cups and small open bowls made in this ware become frequent and continue into the early second millennium.

    Surface Treatment

    Rough to wet smoothed.

    Comments

    Previously called ROG or subdivided into ROG1 or 2. This ware is less common in the late Akkadian, becoming more common in Phase 5 and continues into Phase 6. In Phase 6 it can often be found made into large vessels. Some shapes have stretch marks near the base. This ware becomes common in late third millennium strata and continues into the early second millennium. Conical cups, made in the mid third millennium in Simple and FC ware change in late Phase 4 to be made in RC1 ware. RC and RC1 tend to be more porous than CH and FC. The clay in this category, as in RC1, tends to be more compact near and at the base.

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    Phase 4 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A9q338-p7

    A9q634-p3

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    Interiors

    A9q338-p7

    A9q634-p3

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    Sections

    A9q338-p7

    A9q634-p3

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    Phase 5 - UrIII/Isin-Larsa

    General description

    See Phase 4 descriptions and comments above.

    Temper

    Little chaff, calcite, characteristic for this ware, seen in section and on the surface. Rehydrated calcite can occur on the surface but most calcite is in the small to medium range. Some gray lithic temper, larger grains than sand.

    Decoration

    Can have ribbed rims, template lines on the body, ribs on upper body.

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    Phase 5 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A16q871-p1

    A16q852-p4

    A16q852-p8

    A16q893-p19

    A16q894-p1

    A16q880-p11

    A16q728-p6

    A16q880-p12

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    Interiors

    A16q871-p1

    A16q852-p4

    A16q852-p8

    A16q893-p19

    A16q894-p1

    A16q880-p11

    A16q728-p6

    A16q880-p12

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    Sections

    A16q871-p1

    A16q852-p4

    A16q852-p8

    A16q893-p19

    A16q894-p1

    A16q901-p2

    A16q880-p11

    A16q728-p6

    A16q880-p12

    A16q890-p4

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    Phase 6 - Khabur

    General description

    See Phase 4 descriptions and comments above.

    Temper

    Calcite inclusions show a wider variation in size than previously, resulting in many small and medium nodules added with some larger in size. Dark gray lithic inclusions occur. Little chaff and what there is usually of the small sub-round size.

    Firing

    Very few have a "sandwich" section. Thicker walled shapes can have a light gray carbon core in the thicker portions of the shapes, especially near the rim or the base. Some larger plates have a light gray carbon core throughout the section.

    Color

    Clay mostly red-orange firing but some examples can be gray-green buff. Some shapes have a thin buff slip.

    Decorations

    Can have painted designs.

    Comments

    All wares in this phase are much "grittier" than previously due to the inclusion of a large amount of sand and RC ware is no exception. Stretch marks are rare.

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    Phase 6 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A16q345-p1
    Interiors

    A16q345-p1
    Sections

    A16q345-p1

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    Phase 7 - Mittani

    Temper

    More variation in size between large and small calcite inclusions; even thin-walled painted goblets can have rehydrated calcite inclusions on the surface. This is interesting because of questions of technical control and praxis (for a discussion of this topic see elsewhere in the Ceramics Vol). Little chaff temper added and when present is usually small and sub-round, however a few long thin holes are seen. Some large and small gray lithic temper. Can have "sandwich" section but this is not common; when it occurs it is more common in goblets and other thin-walled vessels.

    Surface Treatment

    Thick buff-brown slip is often added.

    Decoration

    Can be painted with typical Mittani painted designs.

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    Phase 7 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    J2q299-p2

    J2q316-p7

    J2q344-p11

    J2q356-p5

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    Interiors

    J2q299-p2

    J2q316-p7

    J2q344-p11

    J2q356-p5

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    Sections

    J2q299-p2

    J2q316-p7

    J2q344-p11

    J2q356-p5

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    Phase 8 - Middle Assyrian

    Temper

    Large amount of calcite temper.

    Firing

    Medium fired, no carbon core.

    Surface Treatment

    Thinner and smaller shapes can have a thick buff-brown slip on both the interior and exterior.

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