Urkesh Ceramic Analysis

Cross-Horizon

Introduction

Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati – September 2015, September 2016, June 2023

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Overview

The Cross-Horizon typology is derived from the individual catalogs (see Introduction to Catalogs for explanation of their development). In the Shapes by horizon on the right hand side (C1) the individual horizon catalogs are focused on the main shapes only from that chronological period. Each shape has an overview section which points out some particularities of that main shape during that period. Also for some of the catalogs points about the decoration of that shape type are indicated ware.

The Horizon catalogs are reorganized within the cross-horizons to show all the shape combinationsfrom each catalog together in one page. The pages are sorted by main shape with additional pages for rims, handles, bases and decorations. These pages are designed to be illustrative of the types of shapes in the larger Mozan corpus.

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Using the Cross-Horizon Typologies

A complete explanation of the shape code system can be found in the left menu under Attributes-shapes. A full list of the various shapes and explanation of codes is given in the Shapes-Codes List, and the cross-horizon pages are only those types that have currently been illustrated and assigned by horizon. On each page (Jars, Cups, Bowls, etc.) the shapes are grouped by their family and then further by sub-family and type. The Horizon catalog from which the illustration originates is given beneath the code (e.g. Akk, Ur III). These indicators are for reference to the original catalog, but do not necessarily represent the only phases in which a sherd type is present. For example, a bowl with type “bcrr2” is illustrated from the Akkadian and Ur III catalog, but there may also be similar shapes in the EDIII phase that were not included in the catalog. See explanation in Catalogs introduction for how sherds were chosen for inclusion in catalogs.

A complete list of the sherds and vessels included in the Cross-Horizon catalog can be found in the index.

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