Description
| ITEM | Jug |
| MATERIAL | Pottery |
| CULTURE | Bronze Age, Canaanite |
| PERIOD | 1800 – 1550 B.C |
| DIMENSIONS | 190 mm x 90 mm |
| CONDITION | Good condition |
| PROVENANCE | Ex Jerusalem private collection, acquired between 1975 – 1990. |
| BIBLIOGRAPHY | AMIRAN, R., Ancient Pottery of the Holy Land, Plate 34, Fig. 10 |
Bronze Age Canaanite vessels played a central role in the daily life, economy, and ritual practices of the ancient Levant from around 3300 to 1200 BCE. These ceramics ranged from large storage jars and amphorae used for transporting wine, oil, and grains, to small bowls, cups, and jugs for household use. Canaanite potters developed a wide repertoire of forms, many of which were both functional and stylistically distinctive, reflecting local traditions as well as outside influences through trade and cultural contact.
One of the most recognizable types is the Canaanite jar, often large with pointed bases and loop handles, ideal for storage and transport. Other common forms include carinated bowls, juglets, and lamp-like vessels, some of which were used in ritual contexts or placed in tombs as grave goods. Surface decoration was often minimal, with many vessels left plain or burnished, though some were painted with geometric motifs in red or black. These ceramics reveal a preference for practicality but also an awareness of aesthetic proportion and form.
Canaanite pottery also shows strong evidence of interregional exchange. Imports and imitations of Cypriot, Egyptian, and Aegean wares have been found in Canaanite sites, indicating active participation in Bronze Age trade networks.
