Common use of Shape Clause in Contracts

Shape. The jars have a closed shape in which the contents are not very easily accessible unless by pouring or drinking. A closed fist does not fit into the openings of very small and small jars, and retrieving the contents with the hands or with a scoop would have been impossible in smaller jars and awkward in all. The vessel shape is oval or more globular, with the maximum vessel diameter usually at the middle or at the lower half of the vessel. Larger jars are more slender, and the maximum vessel diameter is a bit higher up. The rims are simple and rounded and always a bit bent outwards, facilitating the pouring of liquids or the drinking from the rim. A cover could be tied over the rim and fastened with a rope, but no special ledge was provided for this. The jars are transportable. The ratios between vessel height and rim diameter, and between vessel height and maximum vessel diameter are: Very small Mean ratio (height/rim diameter) = 2.03 (between 1.56 and 2.60; CV = 16%). Mean ratio (height/vessel diameter) = 1.49 (between 1.12 and 1.49; CV = 10%). Small Mean ratio (height/rim diameter) = 2.14 (between 1.57 and 2.75; CV = 10%). Mean ratio (height/vessel diameter) = 1.43 (between 1.17 and 1.62; CV = 7%). Large Mean ratio (height/rim diameter) = 3.03 (between 2.0 and 3.91; CV = 17%). Very small jars mainly have ring bases (63.6%) or flat bases (18.2%). Small jars, on the contrary, have mainly pedestal bases (41.9%) or flat bases (44.2%), while only a few have ring bases (11.6%). Larger jars mainly have ring bases (86.7%) or flat bases (13.3%); pedestal bases do not occur in this group. Very small vessels and large vessels are rather stable and can stand without support. The small vessels are less stable, with their relatively small base diameters compared to the vessel height. This is especially true for jars from level 4 when they have predominantly narrow pedestal bases instead of flat bases (cf. Chapter IV). These jars are unstable without support and many of them cannot easily stand alone. However, ceramic pot stands for small jars are absent from the site (although they could have been made from a perishable material like wood; cf. also Chapter VI). Small jars can be divided into three size groups based on the vessel height and the maximum vessel diameter: Very small 311x: vessel height < 160 mm, maximum vessel diameter < 120 mm. Mean vessel height is 122 mm (between 100 and 150 mm; CV = 12%). Mean maximum vessel diameter is 98 mm (between 87 and 111 mm; CV = 7.3%). Small 311a: vessel height > 160 mm but < 250 mm, max. vessel diam. > 120 mm but < 180 mm. Mean vessel height is 193 mm (between 149 and 230 mm; CV = 8,%). Mean maximum vessel diam. is 136 mm (between 125 and 153 mm; CV = 5.5%). Large 311b: vessel height > 250 mm, maximum vessel diameter > 180 mm. Mean vessel height is 355 mm (between 270 and 460 mm; CV = 19%). Mean maximum vessel diameter is 221 mm (between 199 and 262 mm; CV = 9%). Rim diameters overlap between groups: Very small 311x: mean rim diameter is 59 mm (between 48 and 90 mm; CV = 19%) Small 311a: mean rim diameter is 87 mm (between 67 and 110 mm; CV = 9%) Large 311b: mean rim diameter is 125 mm (between 100 and 190 mm; CV = 9%) The relatively small CV values indicate that the potter indeed meant to produce three size groups. The precise size was not very important, however. Each size group is roughly 1.5 times larger than the group below. Capacity in litres could be calculated for 40 vessels of all size groups. Capacities in litres (measured to the rim) are: Very small 311x: mean capacity is 0.36 litre (between 0.20 and 0.71 litre; CV = 38%) Small 311a: mean capacity is 1.26 litres (between 0.75 and 1.70 litres; CV = 18%) Large 311b: mean capacity is 6.6 litres (between 4.55 and 9.37 litres; CV = 24%) The capacity estimates are almost certainly too high, since the jars would not have been used while filled exactly to the rim. Small jars are roughly three times larger than very small jars, while large jars are roughly five times larger than small jars. The mean values could suggest that the groups would represent values of 0.5, 1.5 and 8 qû . However, the large CV values show that the potter probably did not aim at an exact capacity measure. The greater majority of all vessels was simply smoothed. Only two fragments show a slip on the outside of the vessel. Only 4.2 % of these jars show a simple decoration in the form of horizontally incised lines. The lines are placed on the neck at the transition to the rim, and only occur on the larger jars. One jar (fig. IV.75.d) had five oval impressions on the rim, made while the jar was still wet. Another (fig. IV.108.d) had a crescent shape, painted with bitumen on the shoulder of the vessel. Cf. Appendix E and Chapter V for a discussion of the role of these marks or signs. Only about 3% of all jars showed traces of burning, mainly on both the in and the outside surface of the jar. Most probably these traces are related to depositional processes. Several vessels were completely covered in bitumen on the inside and partly also on the outside. Perhaps these jars were used to contain bitumen. Or perhaps the bitumen was applied to the surface of the jars to make them more watertight. One vessel had a gypsum/lime crust sticking to the inside. Another contained many small burnt bone fragments, charred seeds and charcoal (a sample of these has not yet been analysed). Charred seeds were found in small jars or amongst the fragments of small jars. Orange, buff-cream, brown and greenish stains occur on the surfaces of some jars, mainly on the outside. One jar contained a cremation burial. A few jars had inside surfaces that were flaking or had eroded. In a few others the outside surface was flaking or abraded, mostly at the base. These damages may be due to the original use or contents (perhaps with a high acidity?), but could also be related to post-depositional processes. One jar showed vertical and horizontal traces of scraping at the inside surface. These jars were found all over the settlement and seem to form a normal part of the pottery inventory. A large jar (P93-134) was used in a cremation burial. One was found dumped in pottery kiln H, another in an ashy pit. Jars meant for liquid, semi-liquid or dry (but pourable) contents, in roughly three size groups. • Small jars: drinking jars (beer jars?). • Short-term and long-term storage of liquid or pourable dry material. • Large jars: cremation burials. Percentage of all rims (levels 6-3): 321 2.3% 322 10.2% 323 1.6% Total: 14.1% The greater majority of these jars (more than 99%) was made of a clay with fine organic inclusions (ware group Y). This is most probably related to the raw materials and shaping techniques used. However, a more porous fabric suitable for cooling liquids may have been one of the additional advantages of organic inclusions. These large jars were shaped in two parts that were later joined together. This method results in the regular ovoid shape and the rather low point of gravity. Bases were scraped and a ring base added after the top part had been added. It is very clear that the jar had to be centred a second time on the wheel for shaping the base: bases are often located out of centre compared to the rim, resulting in a slanting and instable vessel. Base cracks were avoided: only 3% of the complete jars have base cracks. Often it was clear that the potter had added a layer of clay with much organic material to the inside of the base, to cover the deep throwing ridges and to make the base thickness more even, to prevent base cracks. Base cracks mostly occurred when the turning of the base wall, on a not exactly centred vessel, resulted in irregular wall thicknesses. Cracks in the wall also occurred; in 2.5% of all fragments serious cracks in the rim and wall were noted. These were almost always repaired, with a gypsum/lime paste or with the more watertight bitumen. Repairs before firing, with some wet clay, were rare. Earlier gypsum/lime repairs that were unsuccessful were sometimes covered with a thick layer of bitumen in an attempt to keep the vessel for use. Apparently cracks were especially unwelcome, suggesting that the contents were often liquid. These jars are tall closed shapes in which the contents are not easily accessible except by pouring. The rim diameters generally do allow contents to be reached or taken out by hand or with a scoop, but the depth of the vessel makes it sometimes difficult to reach the bottom. The vessel shape is a long-drawn oval, and the larger jars are generally a bit thicker than the medium-sized ones. The rims are rolled over and sit directly on the vessel shoulder. All rims provide a convenient ledge that is very well suited to tie a cover over the opening with rope.243 The maximum vessel diameter is mostly located in the middle of the vessel or a bit more to the top, providing a relatively low point of gravity. The greater majority of the jars have ring bases, but these are relatively narrow compared to the vessel diameter and height. Moreover, bases are often located off-centre or in a slightly slanted position with respect to the rim, suggesting they were not meant to support the vessel much. These vessels are not stable and can only rarely stand without support. Especially when full, the risk of tipping over is too big. This instability greatly facilitates the easy pouring out of the contents, and suggests that the vessels were designed for frequent pouring. However, with the help of a support (the wall, other vessels or pot stands; see below), the jars become much more stable and can easily be used for storage as well. In principle, the jars are transportable, and their slender shape facilitates lifting, pouring and carrying. However, when full, the weight of the vessel and contents of especially the larger jars must have been considerable. 243 That large jars were indeed sealed with a piece of cloth tied with rope, is proved by the reverse surfaces of several clay sealings found at Sabi Abyad. They will be published elsewhere (Duistermaat in prep.c). Large jars were also often closed with an unbaked clay stopper, of which many have been found at the site. The rims of the jars have left their impressions on the flat sides of these conical stoppers. Medium Mean ratio (height/rim diameter) = 3.47 (between 2.45 and 4.17; CV = 17 %). Mean ratio (height/vessel diameter) = 2.06 (between 1.35 and 2.36; CV = 18%). Large Mean ratio (height/rim diameter) = 3.96 (between 2.92 and 4.96; CV = 13%). Mean ratio (height/vessel diameter) = 1.88 (between 1.27 and 2.45; CV = 14%). Complete jars could be divided into two groups: medium-sized jars and large jars, on the basis of the vessel height. The relatively low CV values suggest that the potters indeed aimed at two general size groups. The rim diameters, however, are the same in both groups, so the majority of the jar fragments could not be classified in a size group. Medium vessel height < 500 mm, mean vessel height = 426 mm (between 368 and 474 mm; CV = 8%). Mean maximum vessel diameter is 211 mm (between 180 and 272 mm; CV = 15%). Mean rim diameter is 125 mm (between 108 and 150 mm; CV = 13%). Large vessel height > 500 mm, mean vessel height = 614 mm (between 525 and 680 mm; CV = 5.5%). Mean maximum vessel diameter is 333 mm (between 274 and 435 mm; CV = 13%). Mean rim diameter is 157 mm (between 129 and 190 mm; CV = 11%). All jars mean rim diameter is 145 mm (between 70 and 320 mm; CV = 13%). Large jars are about 1.5 times higher than medium jars. The capacity in litres could be calculated for 23 large and 5 medium-sized jars (measured to the rim). Medium mean capacity is 7.16 litres (between 5.56 and 9.06 litres; CV = 18%). Large mean capacity is 29.53 litres (between 19.30 and 49.53 litres; CV = 31%). The mean capacity values seem to suggest that perhaps the groups represent capacity measures of 10 and 35 qû . However, the CV values are relatively high and indicate that an exact capacity was most probably not one of the potters’ aims. Virtually all (99.8%) vessels were simply smoothed during the shaping process. Very few vessels were noted to have a brownish slip; however, it is unclear whether this is a genuine slip.