Glyptics (Version 1)

Categorization. Rosters

Aglyptic impressions

Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati – June 2010, September 2025

Back to top: Aglyptic impressions

Introduction

Aglyptic impressions are those preserved on a sealing that have not been made by a seal.

Sections 1-2 and 4 are based on a list made by Fonda Portales. It identifies the items on which the sealing was affixed.

Section 3 has been established by Christine K. Kimbrough, and the definitions given here are hers.

Back to top: Aglyptic impressions

1. Movable items

Zsa1bk basket weave impression
Zsa1gh gazelle horn
Zsa1ja jar The lexicon will indicate the type of jar, if it can be identified
Zsa1jc jar with string through the clay
Zsa1jk jar with knot
Zsa1jl ar with leather
Zsa1jm jar rim
Zsa1jn jar rim, neck and string
Zsa1jr jar neck and rim
Zsa1js jar with string
Zsa1mb mud brick
Zsa1tg tag

Back to top: Aglyptic impressions

2. Door

Zsa2br bark
Zsa2lt leather impression
Zsa2pf peg with flat surface
Zsa2pg peg
Zsa2po peg at an obtuse angle
Zsa2pr peg with rope impression
Zsa2ps peg with flat surface and string
Zsa2tp two peg impressions
Zsa2wo wood impression
Zsa2wp wood and peg impressions

Back to top: Aglyptic impressions

3. Cordage and textiles

Zsa3an angle The angle of twist indicates the tightness of the spin of a thread or cord. Tightness of spin can be illuminate details of spinning technology such as the range of weights or diameters of spindle whorls that were used and again the uniformity of spinning technology and practice. Angle of twist is measured by drawing a line across the thread from the lower point where the twist of the fiber intersects the edge of the thread or cord. Then, the angle is measured from this line to where the twist intersects the other edge. Of course, no angle of twist should exceed 90 degrees. 90 degrees would indicate no twist, and in fact, approximately 80 to 90 degrees may indicate the natural twist of the fiber. Generally, 0 to 30 degrees of twist is considered tight, 30 to 60 degrees medium, and 60 to 90 degrees loose.
Zsa3fa fabric impression
Zsa3hd hole diameter This variable is the diameter of a hole in a spindle whorl or wheel. This measurement is one parameter for determining whether or not an object could have used as a spindle (the hole must be wide enough to accommodate a spindle). Hole diameter is one of the variables used by Liu (1978) to differentiate between spindle whorls and beads. In addition, other studies of spindle whorls make use of this measurement which means that it provides another variable for comparing spindle whorls from Mozan with those from other archaeological sites.
Zsa3kn knot
Zsa3ro rope weave
Zsa3sp spin The direction in which the thread or cord was originally spun. The primary importance of determining this variable is to facilitate the evaluation of the uniformity of spinning technology and practice. There are some who have argued that it also determines to some extent the handed‑ness of the spinner but this is inconclusive. When the direction of spin is determined from an impression on clay (or any plastic substance), you have to remember that you are viewing the negative and thus the direction of spin is the opposite of what it appears.
Zsa3st string impression
Zsa3t1 thread1 This is the number of threads per centimeter in one direction in a cloth impression. Since identifying warp or weft in small impressions is most often impossible, no attempt is made to designate such terms to one set of threads in an impression. Threads are simply counted in one direction, usually the direction in which the impression is widest (unless otherwise noted), and the the other (variable thread2). This measurement provides a basis for comparing impressions both within the Mozan corpus and with textile impressions from other archaeological sites. The number of threads per centimeter indicates the fineness of the cloth. Differences between thread1 and thread2 indicate to some extent the type of weave.
Zsa3t2 thread2 The number of threads in the second (smaller width) direction of a cloth impression.
Zsa3tw twists This variable describes the type of weave of a cloth or basket impression in the terms used most widely in the archaeological and textile literature. For definitions of these terms and illustrations see Emery 1981, Broudy ??, and Barber 1991. The terms allow for the comparison of the textiles in this corpus with each other and with impressions from other sites. They also provide a basis for analyzing technical aspects of weaving at Mozan and placing the textiles and basketry impressions from Mozan in a larger historical and technological context.
Zsa3wv weave This variable describes the type of weave of a cloth or basket impression in the terms used most widely in the archaeological and textile literature. For definitions of these terms and illustrations see Emery 1981, Broudy ??, and Barber 1991. The terms allow for the comparison of the textiles in this corpus with each other and with impressions from other sites. They also provide a basis for analyzing technical aspects of weaving at Mozan and placing the textiles and basketry impressions from Mozan in a larger historical and technological context.

Back to top: Aglyptic impressions

4. Unclear

Zsa4bc black curved lump
Zsa4br black round lump
Zsa4fl flat surfaces
Zsa4cs curved seal
Zsa4ot other
Zsa4pd perpendicular
Zsa4rd rounded edges
Zsa4tr triangle

Back to top: Aglyptic impressions