Student: J. Pae RS121: Fall, 1994
1) Archaeological Information.
In the Late Bronze Age, the forms of the Middle Bronze II potteries are generally survived and continued while carination slowly disappeared and painted potteries ( though bichrome ware was found near the end of the Middle Bronze II ) and imports from Aegean world (and Egypt with less frequency than Aegean world) became dominant trait. Pilgrim flask or lentoid flask appears to originate in the Late Bronze though there are several similar flask like vessels found in the Middle Bronze II B: a flask with one handle decorated with concentric circles found in Tomb 66 Kafer Garra near Sidon, a ring shaped vessel with neck and handle of piriform juglet, and white painted cypriot import (Amiran). The origin of lentoid flask is still in debate for the present. Amiran chose not to decide weather this flask has its origin and form in Canaan or foreign nations because she believes there is a lack of conclusive evidence. However, in the Web, this is often labeled as Mycenean imports. Regardless of its origin, this flask becomes one of the most popular vessels in this period.
Pilgrim flask differs from other potteries not only in its unique shape but in the technique of manufacture imposed by its shape. Amiran suggests this lentoid flask cannot be made in a single operation. Rather, it requires separate steps. First, the two plates were thrown on the wheel and joined together to form a body. Then the neck (also made separately on the wheel) was added to the body and the handles (probably hand made) were attached at last. The lentoid flask is decorated with black and red concentric circles or sometimes with metopes. Lentoid as its name implies are usually symmetrical and pointed at the base.
The lentoid flasks found in the Late Bronze I, the Late Bronze II A, and the Late Bronze II B are slightly different from each other regarding to their neck, the attachment of handles, and their decoration. Generally, the Late Bronze I flasks have slightly swollen and wider neck than those of Late Bronze II. The Late Bronze II A flasks are characterized by the special attachment of handles; it is effected by spreading clay on the neck as to form petals. Short neck is planted between the petals. However, in the Late Bronze II B, the handles spring from the high and ridged neck. Neck is longer and is about the half as high as the body. The concentric circles are broader and they are more closely spaced. The lentoid flask displayed in the University Museum seems to fit well with the description of the Late Bronze II B flask. It has ridged neck with handles springing from the middle of the neck and rest on the shoulder. Its neck is about half long as the length of the body. The closely spaced concentric circles are drawn widespread.
2) Historical Context.
Lentoid flask indicates the contact with Aegean world possibly due to the extensive trade during the Late Bronze period. The Late Bronze period corresponds to the whole duration of New Kingdom in Egypt, the Eighteenth and the Nineteenth Dynasty. Egypt dominated the political life of Palestine during this period. The abundance of painted potteries and imports seem to indicate the fairly stable condition which allowed extensive and steady trade with Aegean world under Egyptian control. ( The trade in the Late Bronze seems to be stable except the period between the end of the Eighteenth Dynasty and the beginning of the Nineteenth Dynasty in which Egyptian control may have declined somewhat due to Amarna rebellion. However, there was no significant rebellion from Palestine recorded). Cypriot wares appear to connote the opening of Syrian coast to trade with the Eastern Mediterranean and Hurrian decorated potteries indicate renewed northern contacts (Kenyon). Mycenean imports are commonly found in the Late Bronze II also.
Although there aren't adequate data for the present which would decisively determine the origin of the lentoid flask, it seems reasonable to speculate the influence of foreign pottery designs on the development of Pilgrim flasks because of the plethora of imports found in Palestine during this period.
Lentoid flask or so called "Pilgrim" flask were found in the tombs but especially in many temples. Several large temple complexes existed in Lachish, Megiddo, Beth Shan , and so on. It seems that the labels "Pilgrim" began to designate these flask because they were primarily found in temple sites. Amarna letters, Egyptian tablets during the Late Bronze II A ( Akhenaton - Amenhotep IV in Egypt) state many Egyptian statues being set up in many towns of Palestine. Furthermore, there is Temple of Amon - Ra at Karnak which seems to symbolize the significant influence of Egypt on Asiatic.
The abundance and great popularity of these flasks during the Late Bronze may be interpreted as an indication of stable environment flourished in Palestine possibly due to the dominant control of Egypt over these regions. Moreover, these fairly stable condition might have provided setting ripe for pilgrimage to various temples built in the Late Bronze period.
3) Parallels and Plates.
* The University of Penn Museum: Beth Shemesh 3422-42
* Megiddo 1/5 . Late Bronze II
* Ain Shems : Plate IX
* Amiran Plate 51
4) Bibliography
- Kenyon, Kathleen M., ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE HOLY LAND
Frederick A. Praeger, NY., 1960
- Amiran, Ruth., ANCIENT POTTERY OF THE HOLY LAND
Rutgers University Press., 1970
- Albright, William F., ARCHAEOLOGY OF PALESTINE
Peter Smith. 1971
- Bienkowski, Piotr. JERICHO IN THE LATE BRONZE AGE., 1986.