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The Nile silt fabrics
(the Vienna system)

Bourriau/Nicholson/Rose 2000: 121, 130-131

Nile A Nile B1 Nile B2 Nile C Nile D Nile E
large amount of fine sand fine texture with only scattered fine plant remains conspicuous plant remains widest range of inclusions

range of fabrics A-C

range of fabrics A-C
no plant remains fine to medium straw fine to medium straw large quantity of medium to coarse plant remains with limestone inclusions many fine to coarse, rounded sand inclusions
fracture colour: brown greyish-brown   fracture colour: great variability, normally brown, but it may show a black core

fracture colour: grey-brown to reddish-brown

fracture colour: zones of red and violet

 
moderate porosity     signs of uneven firing porosity varies, but is often very hard  
medium hardness       usually very hard and highly fired medium hardness
examples examples examples examples no examples in the Petrie Museum no examples in the Petrie Museum
  linked to vessels with a particular function: drinking cups of the Middle Kingdom   often large heavy containers with thick walls    

Nile A is the finest, Nile C the roughest clay.

 


 

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