APPENDIX 12.1. DECORATED EARLY BRONZE AGE SHERDS

APPENDIX 12.1. DECORATED EARLY BRONZE AGE SHERDS (Alexander H. Joffe) Two Early Bronze Age incised sherds were found during the 1996 excavation of Area J. An EB seal impression found in Area H during the 1996 season is also briefly described here, though it has been di scussed elsewhere (Joffe forthcoming). The sherds are small but interesting additions to the corpus of EB im agery from Megiddo. DESCRIPTIONS 96/J/59/VSJ =PT3 (Fig. 12.48 :1) Sherd 96/J/59/VS I contains one, possibly two , scenes incised after firing . The sherd measures 8.5 x 6.0 em. It is a red-burnished body sherd, probably of a jar. The locus from which the sherd originates consists of plaste r from either wall collapse or flooring directly in front of Altar 4017 (see Chapter 3). The loc us co ntained primarily late EBI pottery. As is typical for loci in direct proximity of the altar, a large number of red-burnished sherds were present (see Chapter 8). The locus is assigned to Level J-4. The first inci sion is indistinct and oriented differently than that superimposed upon it. It may be reconstructed as containing the torso and feet of a human, with a diagonal representing a weapon, and poss ibl y a second leg or haunch to the left. The second incision represents an animal facing left. Four legs are visible; the left front leg is co mpl etel y outlined , as is the left rear leg, while the haunch of the right rear leg is thickened, suggesting an effort to represent an animal in motion. Two triangular ears are discernible. The eye consists of a rough circle or oval and a triangle pointing forward. The arrangement suggests an effort to represent the entire eye, including the iris. No mouth is represented, and the muzzle is roughly triangul ar. The animal's body is thin and elongated. The feet are not clearly visible, and the tail descends and begins to loop upward . The overall impression is of a feline. Little more can be said, except to emphasize the layering, hence reuse, of the sherd and possibly the vessel. 96/J/65/VSJ = PT5 (Fig. 12.48 :2) Sherd 96/J/65/VS I contains one scene. The locus from which it originates is assigned to Level J-4. Like the locus from which the first sherd originated, 96/J/65 is located in front of the altar, although in a different square, and contains plaster debris derived from wall collapse or flooring. A large number of red-burni shed platter bowls and cooking potsherds were found in the locus. The sherd , 15 x I 0 em., is the red-burnished base of a shallow platter bowl. The incised image consists of three lines: one long and straight; a second, which follows the same axis, then tapers inward toward the first line, then flares slightly outward; and a short curving line connecting the two. The effect suggests the tail of a bird . No feathers , wings, breast or feet are evident. The image is cut by two long straight lines, which may be accidental or may have formed part of a larger scene. 96/H/4/ARJ (F ig. 12.45) Seal impress ion 96/H/4/AR I was found in a fill below the courtyard of Building 1853 of Stratum III (see C hapter 7). The sherd ( 1.8 x 2. 7 em.) consists of a pink calcite tempered ware typical of the Early Bron ze Age . Three sides of the sherd appear to have been straightened by chipping. The impression itself is on ly 1.3 em . high. It depicts a horned animal, followed by an animal of a different species, both facing left. The head of the animal on the right is indistinct, which may be 421 partially a function of its position in the composition, as well as due to wear. The horns of the animal on the left are rounded and curve upward over the neck, then downward toward the back. The tail on the right-hand animal is lifted over the back, dips downward, then curves up over what may be pointed ears. The combination may indicate that the left-hand animal is an ibex (Capra ibex nubiana). while the right-hand animal could be a lion or leopard (Felis leo or Felis pardus). The imagery fits well with the corpus of Early Bronze I seal impressions. The shape and condition of the sherd suggests that it was found, modified and preserved some time after the original impression had been made. It may have been a curiosity, trinket, toy or heirloom. DISCUSSION A full discussion of the objects within the context of Early Bronze Age art and iconography is beyond the scope of this presentation. Only a few comparisons and observations will be offered. A number of incised sherds was found in the Oriental Institute excavations at Megiddo, along with the famous stone-slab 'picture pavement', dated to the late EBI (see Chapter 3), contemporary with the first two sherds described here. The new sherds resemble those from the Oriental Institute excavations discussed by Engberg and Shipton, two of which (1934: Fig. 10: M, N) resemble the incised feline presented here, although the new sherd contains much more detail. The feline more closely resembles one on a slab from the 'picture pavement' (Loud 1948: Pl. 275, 9=d283). A number of the slabs contain scenes of hunting or warfare, which may provide context for the partial scene superimposed by the feline. A feline, more obviously a lion or leopard, is also contained on the seal impression excavated in 1996 (96/H/4/AR1 ), as well as on numerous EBI seal impressions (Joffe forthcoming). No parallels for the apparent bird image on the second sherd (96/J/65/VS1) were found at Megiddo. Comparisons with Egyptian imagery of the falcon Horus are tempting, but unfounded at this point. Significantly, the scenes are incised on sherds that are red burnished, a treatment which, in Level J-4, is found primarily in proximity to Altar 4017, rather than the corridor spaces. They reinforce the impression of specialized and segregated activities within the large EBI cultic complex. One can only speculate on the use in cult practice of the vessels from which the sherds originate. The prevalence of animal imagery - on the new sherds and those published by Engberg and Shipton - suggests that at least some cult practices were oriented toward control over or propitiation of natural forces, symbolized by the animals. This tension is also found on EBI seal imagery, where it lacks, however, direct cultic connotations (Joffe forthcoming). Similar imagery, related to human control over nature through violence, is found on several of the 'picture pavement' slabs (e.g. Loud 1948: Pl. 275), where humans are shown attacking, or being attacked by, animals. The possibility that the sherds were involved in sacrifice should be mentioned. That the first sherd (96/J/59/VS 1) served as the platform for a second scene suggests that the vessels may have had continued symbolic or ritual significance. The immense quantities of animal bones found in loci next to Altar 4017 and the presence of several carnivore bones, including that of a lion, in Level J-4, should also be recalled (see Chapter 14). Control over animals was real as well as symbolic. Finally, the manner in which the sherds were incised after firing suggests that everyday vessels were taken out of circulation for continued ritual use, rather than derived from specialized production sources, an impression supported by the initial examination of the Level J-4 ceramic assemblage as a whole. The casual technique similarly suggests that skilled artisans were not involved in executing the imagery on vessels. 422 REFERENCES Abu Assaf, A. 1996. Die Kleinfunde aus Ain Dara. Damaszener Mitteilungen 9:47-111. Amiran, R. 1972. A "Lion Bowl" made ofpottery. Museum Haaretz Bulletin 14:67-72. Avigad, N. and Sass, B. 1997. Corpus of West Semitic Stamp Seals. Jerusalem. Beck, P. 1990. A figurine from Tel 'Ira. Eretz-Israel21 :87-93. (Hebrew) Bernett, M. and Keel, 0. 1998. Mond, Stier und Kult am Stadttor: Die Stele von Betsaida (et-Tell). (Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis 161) Fribourg and Gottingen. Brandl, B. 1993. Clay, bone, metal and stone objects. In Finkelstein, 1., Bunimovitz, S. and Lederman, Z., eds. Shiloh, the Archaeology of a Biblical Site. Tel Aviv. pp. 223-262. Dessel, J.P., Meyers, E.M. and Meyers, C.L. 1997. Tel 'En Sippori, 1996. In: Notes and news. Israel Exploration Journal47:268-271. Engberg, R.M. and Shipton, G.M. 1934. Notes on the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age Pottery of Megiddo (Studies in Ancient Oriental Civilization 10). Chicago. Gilmour, G.H. 1997. The nature and function of astragalus bones from archaeological contexts in the Levant and Eastern Mediterranean. Oxford Journal ofArchaeology 16:167-175. Joffe, A.H. Forthcoming. Early Bronze Age seal impressions from the Jezreel Valley and the problem of sealing in the Southern Levant. In: Wolff, S., ed. Studies in the Archaeology of Israel and Neighboring Lands in Memory of Douglas L. Esse. Chicago. Littauer, M.A. and Crouwel, J.H. 1985. Chariots and Related Equipment from the Tomb of Tutankhamun. (Tutankhamun Tomb Series 8) Oxford. Loud, G. 1948. Megiddo II: Seasons of 1935-39. (Oriental Institute Publications 62) Chicago. Loud, G. and Altman, C.B. 1938. Khorsabad II: The Citadel and the Town. (Oriental Institute Publications 40) Chicago. Maxwell-Hyslop, K.R. 1949. Western Asiatic shaft-hole axes. iraq 11:90-129. McClellan, T. 1993. No 316: Testa di figurina femminile. In: Rouault, 0. and Masetti-Rouault, M.G., eds. L 'Eufrate e il tempo: Le civilta del media Eufrate e della Gezira siriana. Milan. p. 462. Merhav, R. 1980. The palmette on steatite bowls in relation to the minor arts and architecture. Israel Museum News 16:89-106. Meyers, C.L. 1996. Figurine of a nude female. In Martin Nagy, R., Meyers, C.L. and Meyers, E.M., eds. Sepphoris in Galilee: Crosscurrents of Culture. Raleigh, NC. pp. 154-155. Also: 1997. Israel Exploration Journal47:270. Moorey, P.R.S. 1985. Materials and Manufacture in Ancient Mesopotamia: The Evidence of Archaeology and Art. Metals and Metalwork, Glazed Materials and Glass. (British Archaeological Reports International Series 237) Oxford. Negbi, 0. 1976. Canaanite Gods in Metal. Tel Aviv. Rabe, N. 1996. Perforierte Tonkugeln vom Tell el-Oreme. Zeitschriftdes Deutschen Pakistina-Vereins 112:100-121. Sass, B. 1993. Personal accessories and ornaments. In: Finkelstein, 1., Bunimovitz, S. and Lederman, Z., eds. Shiloh, The Archaeology ofa Biblical Site. Tel Aviv. pp. 266-268. Sutherland, C. 1967. The Roman Imperial Coinage. London. Tadmor, M. 1982a. Female cult figurines in Late Canaan and Early Israel: archaeological evidence. In: Ishida, T., ed. Studies in the Period of David and Solomon, and Other Essays: Papers read at the international symposiumfor biblical studies, Tokyo, 5-7 December, 1979. Tokyo. pp. 139-173. Tadmor, M. 1982b. Female figurines in Canaan in the Late Bronze Age. Qadmoniot 15:2-10. (Hebrew) Tufnell, 0. 1984. Studies in Scarab Seals, vol. 2, part 2, London. 423 8. 9. INCISED DRAWINGS ON POTTERY VESSELS 96/J/59/VS 1 = PT3. Provenience: Level J-4 (F); PT: EBia sole, EBib main. Jar sherd; red slip; incised twice after firing. The earlier incisions may show a hunting scene, the later a quadruped. See Appendix 12.1. Fig. 12.48:1. 96/J/65/VSI = PT5. Provenience: Level J-4 (F); PT: EBib main, EBII-III few, MBI sole. Platter base; red slip; incised after firing. Falcon? See Appendix 12.1. Fig. 12.48:2. 8.10. STANDS 96/J/4/AR2 = PTl. Provenience: unstratified/J-7 (A); PT: EBia few, EBib main. Flat baked-clay fragment of square stand(?); incised bow-shaped marks. Fig. 12.49:1. 96/K/105/AR2 = PT8. Provenience: Level K-2 (F); PT: IAI. Fragment from upper ring. Bronze. 'Plaited' decoration. Fig. 12.49:2. 8.11. NATURAL 'COLLECTIBLES' The four items of 96/F/48/AR3 were found together in bowl 96/F/48/VS11. Fig. 12.50:1; see also Chapter 4. 96/F/48/AR2 = PT4. Provenience: Level F-5 (F); PT: nd. Flint pebble; white 'skin' with reddish areas; 'anthropomorphic'. Not illustrated. 96/F/48/AR3/1 = PT5. Provenience: Level F-5 (F); PT: IA. Flint pebble; tinted orange. Fig. 12.50:2. 96/F/48/AR3/2 = PT5. Provenience: Level F-5 (F); PT: IA. Dark grey stone; looks as if composed of several globules. Fig. 12.50:3. 96/F/48/AR3/3 = PT5. Provenience: Level F-5 (F); PT: IA. Elongated dark grey pebble of layered stone (flint?), resembling snake head. Fig. 12.50:4. 96/F/48/AR3/4 = PT5. Provenience: Level F-5 (F); PT: IA. Limestone(?) lump resembling human head. Fig. 12.50:5. 9. INSCRIPTION, COIN 94/F/4/AR2 = PT3. Provenience: unstratified; PT: nd. Sherd, probably of a jar, with remnants of four Hebrew letters incised after firing. The third is the letter qop. Each of the other three consists of a long, oblique leg of a bet, mem, nun or pe. Fig. 12.51:1. 96/H/25/ARI = Provenience: unstratified. Coin. Fig. 12.51 :2. Description by Cecilia Meir, Eretz Israel Museum, Tel Aviv: "Maximianus (286-305 AD). Bronze. Denomination? Weight 2.98 g. Mint Heraclea(?), diameter 21 mm.; axis t. Obverse: Bust of Maximianus to r., radiate, wearing paludamentum and cuiras. Legend around from left below: IMPC[MA]MAXIMIANVSPFA VG. Reverse: Prince standing r., on military dresses receiving small victory on globe from Jupiter standing I., leaning on sceptre. Legend around from left below: [CON]CORDIA MILITVM. Between two figures r B ( cf. Sutherland 1967/6:531 )." 412 Jcm. 10cm. 2 10cm. 3 0 4 Jcm. ____ .......... 1cm Fig. 12.47. Stamp-seal impressions on vessel handles (Section 8.7.6). 411