General Information

This fabric is characterized by a fine dark-reddish-brown matrix under PL (polarized light) which becomes dark-mostly opaque isotropic matrix under XPL (crossed polarizers). These characteristics indicate either a relatively high firing temperature (850 degrees C or above), or a firing in carbonizing atmosphere, that can achieve the dark appearance of the matrix. The non-plastics inclusions include mainly silty angular in shape with a frequency of 5-15% of the slide area in Group 1a and 15-30% in Group 1b. In addition, sand-sized mostly rounded to sub-rounded grains appear in various quantities in the slide (from several to 5% of the slide area). These are grey-brown grains, probably calcareous (either calcareous concentrations or mudstone) and are up to 600 microns in size; they have small zoned of reddish ferruginized areas inside, and in other cases (mostly in Group 1b) reddish ferruginized margins (as in the Tel Na’ama samples); there are no inclusions of microfossils in these grains. Other components of Group 1 are opaque minerals and occasional clay pellets. Fabric 1b is characterized by a more reddish matrix, less isotropic highly fired than Group 1a, and more quartz inclusions including a significant amount of sand-sized sub-angular to rounded quartz grains (some showing ‘wavy extinction’ effect). Sub-group 1b is more common in the BWMW analyzed from sites other than Hazor. Notably, no non-BWMW vessel belongs to Group 1. One sample (Hazor24 a BWMW teapot) has a reddish matrix (plain polarizing light)), abundant silty quartz and no calcareous inclusions was defined as sub-group 1c.

Due to the fact that this fabric is relatively fine and highly fired it is difficult to provenance it geographically.

Megiddo Ware