The origin of imported jars from 6th Dynasty Abusir: new light on Early Bronze Age Egyptian-Levantine relations

Karin Sowada, Mary F. Ownby, Miroslav Bárta

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Thin-section petrography on imported Combed jars from the 6th Dynasty Abusir tomb complex of Qar and his family identified the Central Levant, between Beirut and Tripoli, as the production zone of the vessels. Dating to the reign of 6th Dynasty king Pepy II (c. 2287–2184 B.C.), the jars were made of the same Lower Cretaceous clay type used for imports of the early Old Kingdom. None of the Abusir material was an Egyptian imitation, contrary to previous assessments. The petrography demonstrates the long continuity of exchange networks with a specific area of the Central Levant over a long period of at least 350 years. During the Old Kingdom from the early 4th Dynasty to end of the 6th Dynasty, exchange networks with the region intensified, confirming long-held understandings based on fragmentary archaeological data and the slender textual record.
LanguageEnglish
JournalThe Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research
Publication statusSubmitted - 27 Dec 2019

Fingerprint

imitation
import
continuity
Dynasty
Early Bronze Age
Egyptians
Jar
Exchange Networks
Old Kingdom
Cretaceous
Import
Continuity
Archaeology
Thin Section Petrography
Vessel
Imitation
Reign
Beirut
Tombs
Petrography

Keywords

  • Egypt
  • Levant
  • Abusir
  • Lebanon
  • Byblos
  • Old Kingdom
  • Early Bronze Age
  • trade
  • ceramics
  • petrography

Cite this

Sowada, Karin ; Ownby, Mary F. ; Bárta, Miroslav. / The origin of imported jars from 6th Dynasty Abusir : new light on Early Bronze Age Egyptian-Levantine relations. In: The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. 2019.
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title = "The origin of imported jars from 6th Dynasty Abusir: new light on Early Bronze Age Egyptian-Levantine relations",
abstract = "Thin-section petrography on imported Combed jars from the 6th Dynasty Abusir tomb complex of Qar and his family identified the Central Levant, between Beirut and Tripoli, as the production zone of the vessels. Dating to the reign of 6th Dynasty king Pepy II (c. 2287–2184 B.C.), the jars were made of the same Lower Cretaceous clay type used for imports of the early Old Kingdom. None of the Abusir material was an Egyptian imitation, contrary to previous assessments. The petrography demonstrates the long continuity of exchange networks with a specific area of the Central Levant over a long period of at least 350 years. During the Old Kingdom from the early 4th Dynasty to end of the 6th Dynasty, exchange networks with the region intensified, confirming long-held understandings based on fragmentary archaeological data and the slender textual record.",
keywords = "Egypt, Levant, Abusir, Lebanon, Byblos, Old Kingdom, Early Bronze Age, trade, ceramics, petrography",
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year = "2019",
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journal = "The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research",
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Sowada, K, Ownby, MF & Bárta, M 2019, 'The origin of imported jars from 6th Dynasty Abusir: new light on Early Bronze Age Egyptian-Levantine relations', The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research.

The origin of imported jars from 6th Dynasty Abusir : new light on Early Bronze Age Egyptian-Levantine relations. / Sowada, Karin; Ownby, Mary F.; Bárta, Miroslav.

In: The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research, 27.12.2019.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - The origin of imported jars from 6th Dynasty Abusir

T2 - The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research

AU - Sowada, Karin

AU - Ownby, Mary F.

AU - Bárta, Miroslav

PY - 2019/12/27

Y1 - 2019/12/27

N2 - Thin-section petrography on imported Combed jars from the 6th Dynasty Abusir tomb complex of Qar and his family identified the Central Levant, between Beirut and Tripoli, as the production zone of the vessels. Dating to the reign of 6th Dynasty king Pepy II (c. 2287–2184 B.C.), the jars were made of the same Lower Cretaceous clay type used for imports of the early Old Kingdom. None of the Abusir material was an Egyptian imitation, contrary to previous assessments. The petrography demonstrates the long continuity of exchange networks with a specific area of the Central Levant over a long period of at least 350 years. During the Old Kingdom from the early 4th Dynasty to end of the 6th Dynasty, exchange networks with the region intensified, confirming long-held understandings based on fragmentary archaeological data and the slender textual record.

AB - Thin-section petrography on imported Combed jars from the 6th Dynasty Abusir tomb complex of Qar and his family identified the Central Levant, between Beirut and Tripoli, as the production zone of the vessels. Dating to the reign of 6th Dynasty king Pepy II (c. 2287–2184 B.C.), the jars were made of the same Lower Cretaceous clay type used for imports of the early Old Kingdom. None of the Abusir material was an Egyptian imitation, contrary to previous assessments. The petrography demonstrates the long continuity of exchange networks with a specific area of the Central Levant over a long period of at least 350 years. During the Old Kingdom from the early 4th Dynasty to end of the 6th Dynasty, exchange networks with the region intensified, confirming long-held understandings based on fragmentary archaeological data and the slender textual record.

KW - Egypt

KW - Levant

KW - Abusir

KW - Lebanon

KW - Byblos

KW - Old Kingdom

KW - Early Bronze Age

KW - trade

KW - ceramics

KW - petrography

M3 - Article

JO - The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research

JF - The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research

SN - 0003-097X

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Sowada K, Ownby MF, Bárta M. The origin of imported jars from 6th Dynasty Abusir: new light on Early Bronze Age Egyptian-Levantine relations. The Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research. 2019 Dec 27.