# White Ware

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Type of limestone plaster

**White Ware** or "**Vaisselle Blanche**", effectively a form of [limestone](/source/Limestone) [plaster](/source/Plaster) used to make vessels, is the first precursor to [clay](/source/Clay) [pottery](/source/Pottery) developed in the Levant that appeared in the [9th millennium BC](/source/9th_millennium_BC), during the pre-pottery (aceramic) [neolithic](/source/Neolithic) period.[1][2][3] It is not to be confused with "[whiteware](/source/Whiteware) [[ja](https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%99%BD%E7%A3%81)]", which is both a term in the modern ceramic industry for most finer types of pottery for tableware and similar uses, and a term for specific historical types of [earthenware](/source/Earthenware) made with clays giving an off-white body when fired.

## History

White Ware was commonly found in [PPNB](/source/PPNB) archaeological sites in Syria such as [Tell Aswad](/source/Tell_Aswad), [Tell Abu Hureyra](/source/Tell_Abu_Hureyra), [Bouqras](/source/Bouqras) and [El Kowm](/source/El_Kowm_(archaeological_site)).[1] Similar [sherds](/source/Sherd) were excavated at ['Ain Ghazal](/source/Ayn_Ghazal_(archaeological_site)) in northern [Jordan](/source/Jordan).[4][5] White [pozzolanic](/source/Pozzolanic) ware from [Tell Ramad](/source/Tell_Ramad) and [Ras Shamra](/source/Ras_Shamra) is considered to be a local imitation of these limestone vessels.[6] It was also evident in the earliest neolithic periods of [Byblos](/source/Byblos), [Hashbai](/source/Hashbai), [Labweh](/source/Labweh), [Tell Jisr](/source/Tell_Jisr) and [Tell Neba'a Faour](/source/Tell_Neba'a_Faour) in the [Beqaa Valley](/source/Beqaa_Valley), [Lebanon](/source/Lebanon).[7] It has been noted that this type of pottery was more prevalent and dated earlier in the Beqaa than at Byblos.[8] A mixed form was found at [Byblos](/source/Byblos) where the clay was coated in a limestone slip, in both plain and shell combed finishes.[6] The similarities of White Ware and overlapping time periods with later clay firing methods have suggested that [Dark Faced Burnished Ware](/source/Dark_Faced_Burnished_Ware), the first real pottery, came as a development from this limestone [prototype](/source/Prototype).[9]

## Manufacturing

This crumbly form of proto-pottery was manufactured by pulverizing [limestone](/source/Limestone), then heating it to a temperature in excess of 1000 °C. This reduced it to lime which could be mixed with ashes, straw or gravel and made into a white or grey [lime plaster](/source/Lime_plaster).[10] The plaster was initially so soft that it could be moulded, before hardening through air drying into a rigid cement. The plaster was formed into vessels by coiling to serve some of the functions of later [clay](/source/Clay) pottery. White Ware vessels tended to be rather large and coarse, often found in the dwelling rooms where they were made indicating their use for stationary storage of dry goods.[11] Designs included a range of large and heavy rectangular tubs, circular vessels and smaller bowls, cups and jars.[12] Imprints of [basketry](/source/Basketry) on the exterior of some vessels suggest that some were shaped into large basket shapes.[13] It is likely these larger vessels were mainly used for dry goods storage.[1][2] Some of the White Ware vessels found were decorated with incisions and thick stripes of red ochre.[12][14] Other uses of this material included plastering of skulls and as a floor or wall covering.[15] Some lime plaster floors were also painted red, and a few were found with designs imprinted on them.[16]

## See also

- [Cement](/source/Cement)

- [Concrete](/source/Concrete)

- [Geopolymers](/source/Geopolymers)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-BarnettHoopes1995_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-BarnettHoopes1995_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-BarnettHoopes1995_1-2) William K. Barnett; John W. Hoopes (1995). [*The emergence of pottery: technology and innovation in ancient societies, p. 45*](https://books.google.com/books?id=CSOcAAAAMAAJ). Smithsonian Institution Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-56098-516-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-56098-516-7). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AkkermansSchwartz2003_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AkkermansSchwartz2003_2-1) Peter M. M. G. Akkermans; Glenn M. Schwartz (2003). [*The archaeology of Syria: from complex hunter-gatherers to early urban societies (c. 16,000-300 BC)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_4oqvpAHDEoC&pg=PA81). Cambridge University Press. pp. 81–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-79666-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-79666-8). Retrieved 7 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Contenson, Henri and Courtois L., A propos des vases en chaux. Recherches sur leur fabrication et leur origine, Paléorient 5, 1979, p. 177-182.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hadidi1982_4-0)** Adnan Hadidi (1982). [*Studies in the history and archaeology of Jordan*](https://books.google.com/books?id=McgOAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA34). Department of Antiquities. pp. 34–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-7102-1372-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-7102-1372-3). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Moulins1997_5-0)** Dominique de Moulins (1997). [*Agricultural changes at Euphrates and steppe sites in the mid-8th to the 6th millennium B.C. p. 20*](https://books.google.com/books?id=80q6AAAAIAAJ). British Archaeological Reports. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-86054-922-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-86054-922-2). Retrieved 7 April 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-the_earliest_settlements_in_western_asia_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-the_earliest_settlements_in_western_asia_6-1) [*the earliest settlements in western asia*](https://books.google.com/books?id=Bkk4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA22). CUP Archive. 1967. pp. 22–. GGKEY:CKYF53UUXH7. Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Hours1994_7-0)** Francis Hours (1994). [*Atlas des sites du proche orient (14000-5700 BP)pp. 126, 221, 329*](https://books.google.com/books?id=KlZtAAAAMAAJ). Maison de l'Orient méditerranéen. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-2-903264-53-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-2-903264-53-6). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Moore_8-0)** Moore, A.M.T. (1978). [*The Neolithic of the Levant*](http://ancientneareast.tripod.com/151.html). Oxford University, Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis. pp. 346–349 & 436–442.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Archaeology1991_9-0)** Association for Field Archaeology (1991). [*Journal of field archaeology*](https://books.google.com/books?id=jwryAGAERgcC). Boston University. Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-selskab1972_10-0)** Kongelige Danske videnskabernes selskab (1972). [*Historisk-filosofiske skrifter*](https://books.google.com/books?id=xVY_AQAAIAAJ). E. Munksgaard. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-87-7304-006-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-87-7304-006-5). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BarnettHoopes1995_2_11-0)** William K. Barnett; John W. Hoopes (1995). [*The emergence of pottery: technology and innovation in ancient societies*](https://books.google.com/books?id=CSOcAAAAMAAJ). Smithsonian Institution Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-56098-516-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-56098-516-7). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AurencheKozłowski1999_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AurencheKozłowski1999_12-1) Olivier Aurenche; Stefan Karol Kozłowski (1999). [*La naissance du Néolithique au Proche Orient, ou, Le paradis perdu*](https://books.google.com/books?id=izt6AAAAMAAJ). Errance. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-2-87772-176-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-2-87772-176-9). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dineley2004_13-0)** Merryn Dineley (2004). [*Barley, malt and ale in the neolithic p. 22*](https://books.google.com/books?id=GChmAAAAMAAJ). Archaeopress. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-84171-352-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-84171-352-6). Retrieved 7 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AkkermansSchwartz2003a_14-0)** Peter M. M. G. Akkermans; Glenn M. Schwartz (2003). [*The archaeology of Syria: from complex hunter-gatherers to early urban societies (c. 16,000-300 BC)*](https://books.google.com/books?id=_4oqvpAHDEoC&pg=PA109). Cambridge University Press. pp. 109–. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-521-79666-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-79666-8). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ṿe-ʻatiḳoteha1993_15-0)** Ḥevrah la-ḥaḳirat Erets-Yiśraʼel ṿe-ʻatiḳoteha (1993). [*Biblical archaeology today, 1990: proceedings of the Second International Congress on Biblical Archaeology : Pre-Congress symposium, Population, production and power, Jerusalem, June 1990, supplement, p. 34*](https://books.google.com/books?id=RbTYAAAAMAAJ). Israel Exploration Society. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-965-221-023-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-965-221-023-4). Retrieved 8 April 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-(LondonEngland)1975_16-0)** Prehistoric Society (London; England); University of Cambridge. University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology (1975). [*Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society for ...*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yOAhAQAAIAAJ) University Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Retrieved 8 April 2011.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [White Ware](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Ware) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Ware?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.