1. 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

2. Tel Burna

3. Tel Burna: Area B1

4. Building 29305

5. Ceramic masks

6. Cultic-related finds

7. Figurines

8. The Pottery

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

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

12. profiles of 13 pithoi

13. 'Uluburun' ; 'Cyprus 03' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 02' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 03'
Category
Height (cm)
Max. diameter (cm)
Volume (liters)
Pithoi S 80 60
'Ugarit 01' ; 'Ugarit 02' M
70-80
'Burna 01' ; 'Burna 02' ; 'Ugarit 03' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 01' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 04' L
80-90
'Uluburun' ; 'Cyprus 03' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 02' ; 'Minet-el-Beida 03' XL
90-110
600+
'Cyprus 01' ; 'Cyprus 02'
We assume, that the four different types represent different type of commodities

14. 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

15. The petrographic analysis (D. Ben-Shlomo)
the two pithoi were not made in the same place.
(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)
(handles): clay clearly derives from an area with igneous and volcanic rocks. The clay could possibly come from the region of central Cyprus

16. 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
(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

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

20. 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

21. Thank You!