324 - Ceramic drinking vessel, Canaanite culture, Early Bronze Age (3100–2000 BC)

Ceramic drinking vessel, Canaanite culture, Early Bronze Age (3100–2000 BC) Modeled and fired terracotta. Dimensions: 10 cm high x 14 cm wide. Height with base: 14.5 cm. This interesting ceramic vessel belongs to the pottery tradition of the ancient Canaanite peoples during the Early Bronze Age, a pivotal period in the development of the first urban societies of the Mediterranean Levant. The piece is a type of vessel intended for drinking liquids, whose functional design reflects the domestic customs and artisanal techniques developed in the region during the third millennium BC. Ceramic vessels were essential elements of daily life, used to hold, serve, and consume water, wine, and other beverages, and they also played a significant role in certain social and ceremonial practices. During the Early Bronze Age, the communities of Canaan underwent significant economic and cultural transformations, characterized by the growth of permanent settlements, the development of agriculture, and the consolidation of trade networks that connected the Jordan Valley with the coastal regions of the Mediterranean and other territories of the Near East. Pottery production achieved remarkable formal diversity, with vessels adapted to different domestic uses and crafted using traditional modeling, finishing, and firing techniques. The city of Jericho, located in the Jordan Valley, is one of the oldest and most important settlements in human history, with occupation dating back to the Neolithic period and significant development during the Bronze Age. Archaeological excavations at this site have documented numerous ceramic productions that illustrate the evolution of dietary customs and the social organization of its inhabitants. This type of vessel represents an interesting testament to the material culture of the early Canaanite communities, notable for its formal simplicity and its connection to the daily activities of the ancient populations of the Holy Land. The piece is in ...