Bowls

Brief Overview

The definition of what is a bowl is the same for all units and all time periods in the UGR (see here). We have excavated more ED III ceramics than the earlier periods of LC3 and ED II. ED III bowls came from a number of excavation units centered in Temple BA in excavation units B1-B5 and the temple escarpment in J1, J3 and J5. In the Outer City they came from K1 and OH2.

In this ceramics catalog ED III bowls illustrated are a total of 101 shapes. Since the inventory is larger the number of shape types created by Urkesh potters in this period is greater.

One important type is a small bowl created in Simple ware. Connected with this Simple ware type is a sub-type consisting of small and medium bowls of a finer and higher fired type with a slightly polished surface (bowl). This sub-type is found in this period mainly in the temple and probably was associated with ritual activities carried out there. A small bowl of this type of Simple ware (B1.184) was excavated from the same deposit as the lion statue. Interestingly this type of fine Simple ware however in the shape of cups was found later in the ābi, also a ritual context.

Back to top: Bowls