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General Description
Metallic ware is a dark gray, high-fired ware. The surface is usually gray but can red-brown patches. It is notably distinguished by the ‘clinking’ noise it makes when tapped against other sherds or surfaces. It is primarily known from the outer city areas at Mozan and is likely imported.
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Characteristics
| Basis for Definition |
Some Metallic ware sherds came from the various excavation units, mostly dating to the mid-third millennium, but these are rare in the inventory. From the Outer City however some areas have large amounts of these sherds on the surface. This was especially noted in OD50 and OS11. Two early third millennium tombs excavated in the Outer City, Oa4 and Ob1, contained early Metallic ware cups. |
| Clay Type |
Fine clay is used which yielded a fine and hard texture |
| Temper |
Temper, when present, calcareous, very small particles |
| Firing |
Firing is done in a reducing atmosphere at a high temperature resulting in gray or red-brown surface color |
| Carbon Core |
None |
| Wall Thickness |
Largest necked jars can have a wall thickness of close to 1 cm but the majority of the necked jars have a wall thickness in the range of 3-5 mm |
| Shapes |
Relatively few cups or bowls but medium size necked jars are the commonest shapes
|
| Surface Treatment |
Wet smoothed |
| Decoration |
None |
| Comments |
At Urkesh Metallic ware must be imported and appear to mostly be used a tomb offerings for tombs placed in the Outer City. The locally made Imitation Metallic ware is found more often in the mid-third millennium areas within the High Mound. |
Back to top: Metallic Ware (M)