Base Ring Ware is one of the most distinctive and thereby important archaeological hallmarks of the Late Bronze Age in Cyprus. The technical ceramic standards achieved in this ware coupled with its wide.distribution provided a valuable opportunity to study the technological skills of the ancient Cypriot craftsmen as well as to assess the degree of sophistication of their knowledge, and ability to manipulate the local ceramic material resources. By means of standardized macroscopic studies of a large sherd sample of the ware, the range and patterns of production methods were established. These data were then subjected to statistical clustering procedures to discover any chronological, geographical or technical production patterns for the ware.

In addition, geochemical analyses were performed on a representative set of sherds to provide a basis for characterizing the ware's general geological composition and to determine whether any local variations in the fabric could be identified. For purposes of material comparisons, forty clay samples of various mineralogical types were collected from Cyprus from deposits near the Late Cypriot sites represented by the Base Ring sherds. These clays were also subjected to geochemical analysis and statisticalprocedures to determine whether any of them could provide useful compositional parallels to the materials of the archaeological samples. The sherds were then examined petrographically and by scanning electron microscopy, microprobe and X-ray diffraction analysis to provide complementary and corroborative data for the geochemical profiles. The Cypriot clay samples were used for manufacturing and firing experiments to compare with Base Ring production techniques and were subjected to the same analytical procedures as were the sherds. The combined analytical and technical data were then considered for both sherds and clays to determine the degree to which they contributed to a consistent and overall geological characterization of Base Ring materials and fabrics, and the degree to which
they provided important insights into the relative sophistication and regional nature of the Late Cypriot ceramic industry which produced this remarkable ware ( after Vaughan 1987: Abstract).

Base ring, base ring

Hala Sultan Tekke, Dromolaxia Vizatzia (Cyprus/Eastern coast)

Tel Azekah (Israel/Shephelah)

Tel Mor (Israel-Palestinian Authority/Southern Coastal Plain)

Tell el-'Ajjul (Israel-Palestinian Authority/Southern Coastal Plain)

Tell Tweini (Syria/Coast/An-Nusayriah Mountains)