Phoenician semi-fine is a long-lived ware used primarily for table vessels, perfume containers and jars. Identical shapes occur in two visually distinct fabric groups. The first is dense and chalky, almost powdery, somewhat soft, with very fine white and red inclusions. The second is more granular, with small and occasional medium angular lime inclusions and quartz sand. Both are usually fully fired. Petrographic analysis of the first, chalky variant found shell inclusions, suggesting coastal production; visual and tactile comparison with vessels from Tyre suggest an origin around that city (Patricia Bikai, pers. comm.). Most of the vessels from around the city of ‘Akko occur in the second, more granular fabric. One hypothesis i...
Vessels are reddish yellow (5YR 4/6-8) to pale brown (7.5YR 6/4-6), often fully fired but sometimes with a barely visible firing core. Most have a clean, dense, chalky, almost powdery texture with very fine white and red inclusions. Some have a more granular texture, with small and occasional medium angular lime inclusions and quartz sand.
Fabric is fairly soft, well-levigated, pale buff to pink in color (5YR 7/4 - 7.5YR 7/6), with a chalky texture. A fine dusty film adheres to the...
'Akko, Railway Station (Israel/Northern Coastal Plain)
'Akko, Harbor (Israel/Northern Coastal Plain)