Clay Objects
from archive reportDuring the 1999 Field Season there were two very noticeable and important changes in the clay 'ball' materials found. These changes relate to the shape of the materials found and to their matrix or fabric. As well as the normal clay balls found in previous seasons this year we found a range of other shapes in the deep sounding and the KOPAL area. Shapes found now include spherical, rectangular, conical, cubic, and ovoid objects (see below).
Figure 21: A selection of clay onjects found in the KOPAL area this year: ball, square and cone shape
This large quantity of 'new' geometric shaped objects found in the deep sounding also differ from previously found clay balls in terms of their clay fabric. Rather than a fine well sorted mineral temper, these objects have a more course, poorly sorted mineral temper which includes a wider variety of minerals. The objects also contain a larger amount of organic voids seemingly produced by the use of plant materials as temper. As work continued in both the KOPAL and South areas, the excavated clay objects from both areas began to resemble each other in terms of both shape and fabric.