TEAPOT OR MILKPOT? ABOUT THE CONTENT OF A SMALL, SPOUTED JAR FROM EB IV (2300-2000 B.C.E.) TELL ES-SULTAN, ANCIENT JERICHO

Abstract

During the 15th season of excvations and restorations (2019) at Tell es-Sultan, ancient Jericho, in Palestine, a spouted vase was found in a section, laying on the floor of a room in a very clear stratigraphic location. The vessel belongs to a renowned pottery type of the Early Bronze Age IV/Intermediate Bronze Age (2300-2000 B.C.E.), named “teapot” in the archaeological literature. Due to its state of preservation (the room had been burnt and the vase was still complete and with its inner content preserved), the Jericho “teapot” was analyzed in the CNIS Laboratory of Sapienza University of Rome in order to identify its content. XRF, SEM and 14C have been performed to clarify the nature of remains inside the vase, as well as a thorough typological study for comparisons from other archaeological contexts bearing relevant information. The results of these exams have shown that the vase was not to be used on a fireplace, rather to serve as ewer. Remains of the content show a variable use of the vase and point to sweet beverages, olive oil and salt as its last contents.