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July 15, 2009
A Duck Rimmed Chalice from Tell es-Safi
Aren Maeir provided us with a series of pictures recounting the excavation of a rather strange vessel, among a group of vessels, at his Tell es-Safi excavation. In addition to having ducks on the rim, he describes it as a "very unique, handmade, decorated chalice." The whole group of vessels is from an Iron I horizon at Tell es-Safi. To understand the rest of this post you'll need to read Aren's post and look at his pictures at the Tell es-Safi/Gath blog.
Whenever someone says "unique," particularly when that someone is a very well respected, experienced, professional, my antenna goes up. This is all the more so when there is a vague image of something very similar kicking around in the recesses of my fuzzy memory. Often this kind of reaction sends me to the library. So it was when I read Aren's post and looked at his pictures.
Before I say anything more, I must point out that I know nothing more than what Aren posted. I have not seen the complete ceramic evidence from every possible angle. Aren has. I have not seen a detailed description of nor do I fully understand the archaeological context of this find. Aren does. So the comparative examples I am about to suggest maybe only coincidently be similar and not truly parallel examples. Even if I am correct, what I am about to do is a little unfair. Aren is kind and brave enough to provide us with near real-time reports on his excavation. It is really unfair to treat his wonderful posts as if they were published field reports. But I just checked Abnormal Interests charter and nowhere did I find any requirement to be fair.
Being unique is not necessarily a good thing. The very fact that something is unique implies that it is wholly or partially lacking an interpretive context in a way that multiple exemplars might not be. Otherwise, no one would think it unique. There is an interpretive sweet spot somewhere between unique and ubiquitous.
I was hoping to post a couple of good pictures but the best I can do right now is offer words. First, the words of Amihai Mazar, 84,
Two of the stands were found with ceremonial bowls fitted on top; one bowl was undecorated, but attached to the rim of the second were a duck's head, tail, and wings. The third bowl, decorated with a bird head, was discovered in the anteroom.And then the words of Frances W. James, et al.'s about their finds at the Bronze Age Egyptian Garrison at Beth Shan, of which the say,
Duck or goose heads, as identified by their broad ridged beaks and overall head profile and eye placement (cf Gardiner 1957, signs G38, G29), had been shaped in the round in pottery and once attached to bowls. . . .All the heads had been broken off from larger objects. Bowl rims, probably of the Egyptian-style splayed-rim form, were preserved on four examples. The heads were attached to the inside of the bowls by either inserting a tenon through the sidewall or press the neck up against the rim. Heads of the latter variety sere smaller and had longer necks and less well defined beaks. [page 172, references removed.]
In addition, James et al, 173, cite parallels from Iron Age Tell Qasile (see Mazar above), 19th-20th Dynasty Horovit in Sinai, Riqqeh and Deir el Medineh, and 18th Dynasty el-Amarna and Gurob.
Now it may be true that these parallel duck rimmed bowls were not chalices. If so, that may be what truly makes the duck rimmed vessel from Tell es-Safi unique rather than the ducks. But then maybe we need to discuss the exact difference between a bowl and a chalice.
Hmmm.
Now for true confessions: What I remembered was a bichrome jug from Late Bronze Ajjul with birds drawn on it. I'm on longer think these birds are even ducks.
Update: July 16, 2009
Aren Maeir left the following comment on the Tell es-Safi blog about my concern about the unique nature of the vessel in question
Duane,Ducks on Philistine vessels are well-known, as well as on other “sea peoples related aspects. What is unique here is the form and production of the vessel and the two duck that are attached, one next to the other, on the rim. Believe me, it is quite different from other vessels.
Aren
References:
Mazar, Amihai, Additional Philistine Temples at Tell Qasile, The Biblical Archaeologist, 40:2 (May, 1977), 82-87
Posted by Duane Smith at July 15, 2009 7:52 PM | Read more on Archaeology |
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