Pottery fragments scattered 22m with variable burn patterns

Investigators recovered fragments from the same pottery vessel up to 22 meters apart at Tell el-Hammam, and at different vertical levels within the destruction matrix — clear evidence of violent, explosive scattering. Even more revealing, pieces from the same vessel show drastically different burn patterns: some completely blackened, others medium-burned, some showing line scorch marks, and some seemingly untouched. Researchers use decoration patterns to track vessel fragments across the site, with these variations likely reflecting where fragments landed within the airburst matrix — next to burning debris or non-burning material.