In many cases, the total shape of a vessel is not identifiable, and there is only one particular element of the shape that is preserved and should accordingly be categorized as such. Five such particular elements occur. In order of frequency, they are: rims, bases, one characteristic of the body shape, handles, and spouts.
Rims represent the most frequent group. They tend to be general and the codes are used for more than one horizon. See here the full list of codes, and here an illustration of the types. – Total codes: 57.
Base codes are general and also tend to be used for more than one horizon. Bases through time gradually become more articulated and therefore there are many more base codes for the Mittani shapes than were for the Early Dynastic shapes. See here the full list of codes, and here an illustration of the types.– Total codes: 29.
Handles are also general and the codes are used for more than one horizon. See here the full list of codes, and here an illustration of the types.– Total codes: 19.
Spouts. – Total codes: 1.
Body shape. Often, a sherd includes evidence of the vessel body shape even if there is no diagnostic trait: for instance, there may be enough of the sherd to indicate that it is the side of a jar, even if no rim or base is present. The same codes are then used as for the whole shape, and these codes can be used for more than one horizon.
Back to top: Particulars: rims, bases, handles