Red Orange Calcite Temper Ware (RC)

Much chaff.

Green-buff slip on exterior and sometimes on the interior.

Many thicker walled shapes

This ware begins to be used in ED IIIb but probably was already in existence for a few small shapes in ED IIIa.

Most examples found in the late Akkadian and especially Phase 5 (UrIII/Isin-Larsa) of Area AA.

Much calcite temper (some of it large), red-orange to light orange clay.

Much calcite both on surface and in section, some mica temper and sand. All vessels, especially larger vessels, have chaff temper; these inclusions of small sub-round chaff are for the most part evenly distributed. RC ware is distinguished from CH ware by the large amount of calcite temper and the red firing clay and a more porous consistency. .

Medium to high. A "sandwich" effect from the firing temperature and duration is lighter on the portions of the section near the exterior and interior surfaces and darker in the center of the section; the reverse of this color pattern in the section is also possible. Thick shapes sometimes have a carbon core.

Red-orange, light orange, to tan. Some examples of medium gray color.

5mm-2cm, but rarely as thick as 2.5 cm.

In later third millennium examples of conical cups and small open bowls made in this ware become frequent and continue into the early second millennium.

Rough to wet smoothed.

Previously called ROG or subdivided into ROG1 or 2. This ware is less common in the late Akkadian, becoming more common in Phase 5 and continues into Phase 6. In Phase 6 it can often be found made into large vessels. Some shapes have stretch marks near the base. This ware becomes common in late third millennium strata and continues into the early second millennium. Conical cups, made in the mid third millennium in Simple and FC ware change in late Phase 4 to be made in RC1 ware. RC and RC1 tend to be more porous than CH and FC. The clay in this category, as in RC1, tends to be more compact near and at the base.

See Phase 4 descriptions and comments above.

Little chaff, calcite, characteristic for this ware, seen in section and on the surface. Rehydrated calcite can occur on the surface but most calcite is in the small to medium range. Some gray lithic temper, larger grains than sand.

Can have ribbed rims, template lines on the body, ribs on upper body.

See Phase 4 descriptions and comments above.

Calcite inclusions show a wider variation in size than previously, resulting in many small and medium nodules added with some larger in size. Dark gray lithic inclusions occur. Little chaff and what there is usually of the small sub-round size.

Very few have a "sandwich" section. Thicker walled shapes can have a light gray carbon core in the thicker portions of the shapes, especially near the rim or the base. Some larger plates have a light gray carbon core throughout the section.

Clay mostly red-orange firing but some examples can be gray-green buff. Some shapes have a thin buff slip.

Can have painted designs.

All wares in this phase are much "grittier" than previously due to the inclusion of a large amount of sand and RC ware is no exception. Stretch marks are rare.

More variation in size between large and small calcite inclusions; even thin-walled painted goblets can have rehydrated calcite inclusions on the surface. This is interesting because of questions of technical control and praxis (for a discussion of this topic see elsewhere in the Ceramics Vol). Little chaff temper added and when present is usually small and sub-round, however a few long thin holes are seen. Some large and small gray lithic temper. Can have "sandwich" section but this is not common; when it occurs it is more common in goblets and other thin-walled vessels.

Thick buff-brown slip is often added.

Can be painted with typical Mittani painted designs.

Large amount of calcite temper.

Medium fired, no carbon core.

Thinner and smaller shapes can have a thick buff-brown slip on both the interior and exterior.