Urkesh Ceramic Analysis

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

Fine Red Orange Calcite Temper Ware (RC1)

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

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General Description

Fine Red Organge Calcite Temper ware is very similar to the Red Orange Calcite Temper ware with a red-orange color and much calcite temper. The finer RC1 type can be distinguished from the RC by the finer temper. Additionally, the shapes are also smaller and finer than the RC types.

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Characteristics

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Phase 4 - Akkadian

Basis for Definition

Most common in Phases 4 and 5 of Area AA. Becomes common in late third millennium strata and continues into the early second millennium. Conical cups, made in the mid third millennium in Simple ware change gradually within Phase 4 to be made in RC1 ware.

Identifying Attributes

Much calcite temper.

Surface Color

Red-orange, light orange, to tan.

Temper

Small calcite with some rehydrated calcite in section and on the surface of some vessels. Chaff temper is sub-round but most shapes have very little chaff temper. Lithic temper is very small and evenly distributed with light gray particles (probably Quartz) predominating.

Firing

Medium to high but some examples are low fired. There are some indications of uneven firing in small bowls and cups. A carbon core is found in some examples but many lighter in the center of the section than on the exterior and interior; this is the same "sandwich effect" seen in RC ware.

Color

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

Wall Thickness

Less than 5mm.

Shapes

Mostly thin walled small shapes including:

  • Cups

  • Small bowls.

  • Medium jars.

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

    Manufacturing Techniques Clay more compact near the base of most vessels; some examples have stretch lines seen in the section at the base.
    Surface Treatment

    Rough to wet smoothed.

    Comments

    Shapes tend to be smaller and finer with smaller and finer temper than RC ware. While some examples are very well made, others are produced rapidly on a fast wheel with no attention to removing traces of the wheel marks; this occurs especially in the production of conical cups.

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    Phase 4 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A09q338-p8

    A09q338-p14

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    Interiors

    A09q338-p8

    A09q338-p14

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    Sections

    A09q338-p8

    A09q338-p14

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    Phase 5 - UrIII/Isin-Larsa

    Decoration

    Small to medium carinated bowls can have template lines on the upper body.

    Comments

    Phase 5 examples of this ware are very close to those made in Phase 4.

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    Phase 5 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A16q839-p5

    A16q861-p10

    A16q879-p1

    A16q731-p5

    A16q888-p6

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    Interiors

    A16q839-p5

    A16q861-p10

    A16q879-p1

    A16q731-p5

    A16q888-p6

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    Sections

    A16q839-p5

    A16q861-p10

    A16q879-p1

    A16q880-p2

    A16q731-p5

    A16q888-p6

    Back to top: Fine Red Orange Calcite Temper Ware (RC1)

    Phase 6 - Khabur

    Temper

    Calcite is found in a small to medium size range making them in general larger than the calcite found in Phase 4 RC1 vessels. Some sand occurs as an inclusion.

    Firing

    Medium to high, few have the "sandwich" coloration in section.

    Color

    More of the vessels are red-orange in color.

    Surface Treatment

    Light buff slip sometimes applied to the exterior but so thinly that the orange clay shows through giving the surface a light orange color.

    Decorations

    Can be painted with the typical Khabur designs.

    Comments

    Stretch marks can be found near the rim and near the carination in carinated bowls.

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    Phase 6 Sherd Illustrations

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    Exteriors

    A16q324-p1

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    Interiors

    A16q324-p1

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    Sections

    A16q324-p1

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    Phase 7 - Mittani

    Temper

    Grittier, with more sand added, than in Phase 6 and sometimes quite coarse for thin walled vessels. Chaff size is uneven with shapes extending from large elongated pieces to small and medium sub-round pieces. Chaff is frequent on the surface of even the thinnest vessels. Rehydrated calcite and small calcite pieces are found on the surface of many vessels, even thin walled shapes.

    Color

    Red-orange to orange-brown clay.

    Surface Treatment

    Surfaces are frequently not well finished. A thick slip is often applied that can be buff-orange to brown-buff; this slip has the effect of masking the rough surface.

    Decoration

    Can be painted with the typical Mittani designs.

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