The Oxford Concise Dictionary of Archaeology
Today's entry was referred to yesterday's post on cordoned urns:
Collared Urns[AR] A type of early and middle bronze age *cinerary urn found extremely widely in the British Isles. Although there are a range of forms, the basic characteristics include a small flat base, a conical body, and a heavy overhanging rim, or collar, which is usually ornamented with incised or impressed decoration. Two main body forms are represented: bi-partite vessels and tri-partite vessels. The origin of these vessels is probably to be found in the Fengate wares of the British late Neolithic Perterborough series. Collared urns appear around 2000 B.C and are replaced by other styles of urn with continental affinities by 1500 B.C. Ian Longsworth provided a two-fold typological division that reflected something of the chronological development ot the tradition as a whole: the 'primary' series and the 'secondary' series.
Collared Urn #1:
"This is a large, Secondary Series, Form IA collared urn. Two cordons running around the base of the collar and the belly emphasise the neck." (University of Aberdeen)
Collared Urn #2:
"This is large Second Series, Form I/IV collared urn with a narrow base. The fabric is heavily tempered with grit. There is also a thick cordon below the collar and the vessel is absolutely plain, with no decoration." (University of Aberdeen)
Collared Urn #3:
"This is a large, substantial Secondary Series, Form IA collared urn. Although incomplete, the collar and neck can be clearly distinguished, and body tapers towards the base, which is missing." (University of Aberdeen)
Collared Urn #4:
"This is a Secondary Series collared urn, with a pronounced cordon at the shoulder, above which is a collar zone decorated with incised cross-hatching, which also covers the bevelled inside of the rim." (University of Aberdeen)
Cinerary Urn[AR] A ceramic vessel used to contain the cremated remains of one or more individuals for burial. Such vessels were not always specifically made for the purpose; many are in fact ordinary domestic vessels selected for the purpose and ending up, in archeological terms, in a burial context.
Note - From the Marischel Virtual Museum (University of Aberdeen), where searching for collared and cordoned urns will bring up many more examples:
"Urns were the dominant type of pottery vessel used in burials, usually of a cremated body, during the early Bronze Age, about 1450-1250BC. They are found both in cemeteries and as secondary burials in barrows, often with the base uppermost, and may be accompanied by other grave goods."
Additional Note - From 'Prehistoric Pottery For The Archaeologist', by Alex M. Gibson, Ann Woods:
"Cordoned urns may resemble collared urns, to which they are closely related, single cordoned urns resembling bipartite collared urns, and double resembling tripartite collared urns."
Okay, I'm getting confused. Especially since example #4 looks an awful lot like yesterday's cordoned urns, and is referred to as having a large cordon. The cordoned urns are also referred to as having collars. Hmmm. I find myself wondering if the difference between collared and cordoned is the depth and shape of the ridges, or their method of construction. Single, bipartite, and tripartite seems to refer to the number of sections. If anyone can explain the difference between these pottery forms coherently, I'd be deeply grateful. And "double resembling?" What the heck is that? Okay, I know what they mean, but it's a pretty strange way of saying it.
Collared Urns[AR] A type of early and middle bronze age *cinerary urn found extremely widely in the British Isles. Although there are a range of forms, the basic characteristics include a small flat base, a conical body, and a heavy overhanging rim, or collar, which is usually ornamented with incised or impressed decoration. Two main body forms are represented: bi-partite vessels and tri-partite vessels. The origin of these vessels is probably to be found in the Fengate wares of the British late Neolithic Perterborough series. Collared urns appear around 2000 B.C and are replaced by other styles of urn with continental affinities by 1500 B.C. Ian Longsworth provided a two-fold typological division that reflected something of the chronological development ot the tradition as a whole: the 'primary' series and the 'secondary' series.
Collared Urn #1:
"This is a large, Secondary Series, Form IA collared urn. Two cordons running around the base of the collar and the belly emphasise the neck." (University of Aberdeen)
Collared Urn #2:
"This is large Second Series, Form I/IV collared urn with a narrow base. The fabric is heavily tempered with grit. There is also a thick cordon below the collar and the vessel is absolutely plain, with no decoration." (University of Aberdeen)
Collared Urn #3:
"This is a large, substantial Secondary Series, Form IA collared urn. Although incomplete, the collar and neck can be clearly distinguished, and body tapers towards the base, which is missing." (University of Aberdeen)
Collared Urn #4:
"This is a Secondary Series collared urn, with a pronounced cordon at the shoulder, above which is a collar zone decorated with incised cross-hatching, which also covers the bevelled inside of the rim." (University of Aberdeen)
Cinerary Urn[AR] A ceramic vessel used to contain the cremated remains of one or more individuals for burial. Such vessels were not always specifically made for the purpose; many are in fact ordinary domestic vessels selected for the purpose and ending up, in archeological terms, in a burial context.
Note - From the Marischel Virtual Museum (University of Aberdeen), where searching for collared and cordoned urns will bring up many more examples:
"Urns were the dominant type of pottery vessel used in burials, usually of a cremated body, during the early Bronze Age, about 1450-1250BC. They are found both in cemeteries and as secondary burials in barrows, often with the base uppermost, and may be accompanied by other grave goods."
Additional Note - From 'Prehistoric Pottery For The Archaeologist', by Alex M. Gibson, Ann Woods:
"Cordoned urns may resemble collared urns, to which they are closely related, single cordoned urns resembling bipartite collared urns, and double resembling tripartite collared urns."
Okay, I'm getting confused. Especially since example #4 looks an awful lot like yesterday's cordoned urns, and is referred to as having a large cordon. The cordoned urns are also referred to as having collars. Hmmm. I find myself wondering if the difference between collared and cordoned is the depth and shape of the ridges, or their method of construction. Single, bipartite, and tripartite seems to refer to the number of sections. If anyone can explain the difference between these pottery forms coherently, I'd be deeply grateful. And "double resembling?" What the heck is that? Okay, I know what they mean, but it's a pretty strange way of saying it.