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 The ASOR Annual Meeting, San Antonio, November 2016

Tel Burna

Tel Burna: Area B1

Building 29305

Ceramic masks

Cultic-related finds

Figurines

The Pottery

The pithoi everted rim wide tall neck globular body flat base One has wavy-band decoration; the other has two handles

Similar shape but not identical (A. Karasik) the neck begins at the same point on each vessel The volume of each is estimated between 189-197 liters

profiles of 13 pithoi

'Uluburun' ; 'Cyprus 03' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 02' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 03' Category Height (cm) Max. diameter (cm) Volume (liters) Pithoi S 80 60 100-120 'Ugarit 01' ; 'Ugarit 02' M 70-80 190-230 'Burna 01' ; 'Burna 02' ; 'Ugarit 03' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 01' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 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

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

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

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

NAA (M. Spigelman) Comparative data were produced from several projects related to both ceramic production on Cyprus and trade abroad

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

Thank You!