Neo-Assyrian Palace Ware

The Neo-Assyrian Palace Ware project is based on a dissertation written in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Doctor of Philosophy in Archaeological Materials Analysis at UCL Institute of Archaeology. The research involved the synthetic archaeological and archaeometric analysis of Assyrian Palace Ware, a 8-7th century B.C.E. ceramic drab-ware, to evaluate its social function and semiotic significance across the Neo-Assyrian imperial landscape. Social function was evaluated by analysis of those formal and fabric characteristics which describe the relationship between the vessel and its cultural audience, while semiotic value was measured by the perpetuation and modification of these characteristics.

Definitional criteria (formal and fabric) were determined for Palace Ware through the morphometric and petrographic analysis of vessels from the Neo-Assyrian imperial core, Aaaur, Nineveh and Nimrud. These criteria were used to evaluate vessels from the annexed provinces, Dur-Katlimmu and Guzana, and unincorporated territories such as Tell Jemmeh.

The main aim of the current project is to make the chemical and petrographic data from this dissertation available for comparative purposes and future studies.