Cooking Pot Production in Judah during the Iron Age II

The article examines the issue of production of cooking vessels in Judah during the Iron Age II (ca. 1000–586 BCE) and surveys some new and previously published compositional studies of cooking vessels in Iron Age II Judah, employing petrographic analysis. In several sites in Judah, particularly in the Negev, most cooking vessels were found to be imported from rather distant locations. This may suggest the existence of specialized workshops for cooking pot production. In addition, the evidence for a distinct technological change in cooking ware production methods during the Iron II is discussed. Gloria London has pointed out a break in the ceramic tradition of cooking pot production during the Iron II, represented by changes in tempering and vessel shapes. The paper examines whether the existing petrographic data from sites in Judah supports this observation, and suggests avenues for further research. (מתוך המאמר)