General Information

The main characteristic of this ware is its undecorated surface. Therefore, even though it shares clay characteristics with some other categories (like burnished or slipped wares), it is distinguished through its minimal surface treatment. This is a daily used ware, and hence is the most represented group among Cilician Late Bronze Age assemblages (1500-1200). Plain wares exist already in the Early and Middle Bronze Ages, which might be the forerunners of LBA Plain Ware. In Cilicia this ware was dealt with in detail first in Gözlükule excavations and called “Plain Monochrome”, where it is used to designate the plain wares of both in LB I and LB II levels (Goldman 1956; Ünlü 2016; Ünlü 2016). In Kinet Höyük this ware is described also in detail as buff/light orange fabric (Gates 2006). At Yumuktepe excavations it is referred to as “orange colored ware” (Sevin/Köroğlu 2004). Similarly, the ware is also found in Soli Höyük (Yağcı 2007). In Sirkeli Höyük this ware is called either “standard ware or plain ware”. Another type of possibly related pottery called ‘Drab Ware’ needs further investigation to determine if it is type on its own or a subgroup of Plain Ware.

In general, this ware has a light brown/buff/light orange fabric color and can be divided into three sub-categories as fine, medium and coarse according to the amount of inclusions. Inclusions could be lime, stone grits, sand, mica, and sometimes chaff, but the recipes would vary across sites and periods. Fine clay is rare and is used more frequently for slipped and burnished wares (which are treated under Burnished Plain Ware/Slipped and Burnished Ware entry, even though theoretically the fabric is the same). Medium clay is the most common within the Plain Ware category. Another feature that occurs occasionally on the surface of Plain Ware are the “pot marks”, which are incised onto the surface prior to the firing.

The main forms of this ware are bowls, plates, jars, jugs, flasks, pot stands, lamps and pithoi. The main forms show a great variety in rim and body types.

Monochrome Ware

Standard Ware

Drab Ware

Sirkeli Höyük (Turkey/Eastern Mediterranean)

Soli Höyük, Pompeiopolis (Turkey/Eastern Mediterranean)

Tatarlı Höyük (Turkey/Eastern Mediterranean)