Late Chalcolithic Chaff Temper Ware (LCH)

Terrace associated with revetment wall, J1 in front of terrace, J3 inside terrace.

Thick carbon core, much chaff on both interior and exterior surfaces as well as in the section.

Much chaff up to a maximum, length of 5mm, often the chaff is not completely carbonized. Large mineral inclusions include a gray and a white type. The gray type can be as large as 3.5mm and have an angular shape (Sphercity factor 0.9 and Roundness factor 0.5). White inclusions may be calcite; they are smaller (less than 2mm) and rounder (Sphercity factor between 0.5 and 0.9 and Roundness factor 0.9). Some white mineral inclusions are larger (ca 4mm, Sphercity factor 0.7 and Roundness factor 0.7). A light gray mineral inclusion can be seen on interior, exterior and in the section; they are poorly distributed (have a size less than 5mm, Sphercity factor 0.9 and Roundness factor 0.7).

Low fire, most have a wide carbon core with only the thin surface of the exterior and interior a brownish-red.

Gray-brown to bright orange, a small number of sherds are buff. Evidence of use: many shapes have traces of secondary firing probably signifying that they were used in cooking. Some have a delimited carbon stain on the rim indicating use as a lamp. Many hammer rim bowls have traces of firing on the interior but not the exterior. These bowls have evidence of use ware on the inside edge of the rim, indicating a stirring activity.

Some forms have a thick slip. Hammer rim bowls and small jars have either a wet smooth exterior and interior or are left relatively coarse. Coarser shapes also have a slipped and wet smooth surface. A few examples are burnished with a type of space burnishing stroke but in non-parallel directions. One sherd may have a potter's mark (J1 f196).

Hammer rim bowls below the rim ca 1cm; flat bowl near the center 1 cm or thicker; small jars below the rim 1 cm.

Handmade.

A variation of this ware with few examples in the ceramic inventory excavated so far is thinner walled, much chaff temper, medium and fine calcite temper some with rehydration, higher fired even though this variation still has a carbon core. The surface can be left coarse or be covered with a red-brown slip and burnished.