Urkesh Ceramic Analysis

Categorization / Lexicon / Decoration

Bitumen Decoration and Treatment

Laerke Recht – June 2015
February 2017

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Introduction

Bitumen is used for both functional purposes and decoration on vessels. It can be used to repair broken vessels as a binding agent, and as a waterproofing material. Bitumen decoration is usually applied to the neck and rim, normally in solid bands. Some variations of bitumen painted decorations occur such as dotted patterns or amorphous designs. Bitumen painted vessels are predominately found during the UrIII/Isin-Larsa period.

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Rim (B2)


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Neck and rim (B3)

See also combinations B3+I7.

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Amorphous design on body (B4)


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Large dots on shoulder or upper body (B5)



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Bitumen repair (B6)

See also combinations A2+B6 and B6+K3.

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Bitumen inside for waterproofing (B7)


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Bitumen painted on body (B8)

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