Jars

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Brief Overview

The definition of what is a jar is the same for all units and all time periods in the UGR (see here). The most important context so far in Urkesh for the Akkadian period is the royal palace of Tupkish with its two courtyards and various rooms investigated by us, see F. Buccellati’s 2017 volume.

From the Akkadian palace of Tupkish a number of jar shape types involved necked jars which would have made carrying easier, whether full or empty. Some of these are decorated with incised wavy and straight line patterns. Hole mouth jars are also found in the palace. Large jars, too large for carrying, were found in the palace; these included hole mouth jars, necked jars, shouldered jars and restricted neck jars. The shapes of cooking vessels are usually hole mouth globular jars with rounded bases.

A large jar with an ovoid body shape was found in one of the courtyards of the palace. It is decorated with incised geometric patterns and three applied snakes and scorpions. The snakes are positioned looking from the rim into the jar. These jars are thought to be the locus of divinatory rituals called in Hurrian altanni. Sherds of other examples of this type of decorated jars came from other areas connected with the palace.

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