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Atiqot 115 (2024)
ISBN 2948-040X
Rural Ceramic Production Unveiled? A Petrographic Analysis of Early Islamic Mold-Decorated Buff Ware from the Be’er Sheva‘ Valley
(Pp. 111–130)
Anat Cohen-Weinberger and Davida Eisenberg-Degen
Keywords: Negev, Early Islamic period, mold-decorated Buff Ware, petrography, Beer Sheva Valley, rural, pottery production
This paper delves into the intriguing Early Islamic mold-decorated Buff Ware jugs found in the rural Negev region, shedding light on the broader phenomenon of imitations, in general and particularly, within the context of a rural farmstead situated on the southern bank of Naḥal Be’er Sheva‘. To accomplish this, we analyzed petrographically 22 sherds from nine sites spanning various geographic areas within modern-day Israel, aiming to reveal invaluable insights into mold-decorated Buff Ware production and distribution. The primary objectives of this study were twofold: first, to explore the degree of centralization in mold-decorated Buff Ware production, and second, to determine whether some of these vessels were manufactured locally within rural settlements, alongside their production in large urban centers such as Ramla.