Transcript 2016: Shai, I.: “Tel Burna Archaeological Project: The Results of the

Two Cypriot
Pithoi from Late
Bronze Age Tel
Burna
Itzick Shai, Chris McKinny,
Matthew Spigelman, David
Ben-Shlomo, Avshalom
Karasik, Dvory Namdar and
Joe Uziel
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The ASOR Annual Meeting, San Antonio, November 2016
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Tel Burna
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Tel Burna: Area B1
4
Building
29305
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Ceramic masks
6
Cultic-related finds
7
Figurines
8
The Pottery
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The pithoi
•
•
•
•
•
everted rim
wide tall neck
globular body
flat base
One has wavyband
decoration; the
other has two
handles
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Similar shape but not identical
(A. Karasik)
• the neck
begins at the
same point
on each
vessel
• The volume
of each is
estimated
between 189197 liters
Jar 01
Jar 02
1000
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-400
-200
0
200
400
600
800
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profiles of 13 pithoi
352 liters
723 liters
651 liters
383 liters
193 liters
272 liters
305 liters
200 liters
98 liters
118 liters
227 liters
197 liters
189 liters
160
140
120
100
cm
Uluburun
Cyprus 01
Cyprus 02
Cyprus 03
Minet-el-Beida 01
Minet-el-Beida 02
Minet-el-Beida 03
Minet-el-Beida 04
Ugarit 01
Ugarit 02
Ugarit 03
Burna 01
Burna 02
80
60
40
20
0
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70
cm
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Category
Height
(cm)
Volume
(liters)
Pithoi
80
Max.
diameter
(cm)
60
S
M
100-120
'Ugarit 01' ; 'Ugarit 02'
100-120
70-80
190-230
'Burna 01' ; 'Burna 02' ;
'Ugarit 03' ; 'Minet-elBeida 01' ; 'Minet-elBeida 04'
L
120-130
80-90
270-400
'Uluburun' ; 'Cyprus 03' ;
'Minet-el-Beida 02' ;
'Minet-el-Beida 03'
XL
140-170
90-110
600+
'Cyprus 01' ; 'Cyprus 02'
• We assume, that the four different types represent
different type of commodities
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Residue analysis (D. Namdar)

extraction of organic residues analysis yielded no
preserved compounds



the lack of preserved absorbed organic residue in the
pithoi was not an issue of preservation
it seems that the vessels held contents which did
not leave any traces
pithoi found on the Uluburun shipwreck, which were
found to be filled with other containers being
transported. it is likely that after having arrived at Tel
Burna, the vessels would have been filled with
something else
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The petrographic analysis (D.
Ben-Shlomo)
 the
two pithoi were not made in the same
place.


432000 (wavy band): The clay may originate in
a coastal region due to the rounded quartz
and limestone sand. may fit the region of the
eastern coast of Cyprus as well as other regions
(as the Sharon and Carmel coast)
332081 (handles): clay clearly derives from an
area with igneous and volcanic rocks. The clay
could possibly come from the region of central
Cyprus
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NAA (M. Spigelman)
 432000(wavy
band): has a calcareous fabric, as
shown by its high calcium concentration and
enrichment in Rare Earth Elements. It is
generally enriched in transition metals as well,
as is typical of Cypriot calcareous fabrics
 332081 (handles): has a calcareous fabric, and
presence of basaltic inclusions (ultra-basic
rocks, such as those of the Troodos ophiolites)
 Both were produced in Cyprus
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NAA (M. Spigelman)
 Comparative
data were produced from
several projects related to both ceramic
production on Cyprus and trade abroad
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19
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Conclusions

The almost identical size would have been known to
both those using the vessel and the potters who
created them




A standardization of volume for Cypriot imported Pithoi
differences within the markets of the northern and
southern Levant
The medium size type that was discovered at Tel Burna
held a commodity which did not leave chemical
traces
It seems most likely that water, which could be fetched
relatively easily with the use of a dipper juglet, filled the
pithoi
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Thank You!