Israelite Pinched Oil Lamp 1
Name/Title
Israelite Pinched Oil Lamp 1Entry/Object ID
11NE-Mi37-175Description
A complete Iron IIA-B pinched oil lamp. The rim is flat and everted with a plain lip. It extends into a short body with a rounded base. The spout is pinched and appears to be blackened from use. Underneath the soil and calcification on the vessel, the terracotta coloured clay is still visible. There does not appear to be any surface treatment on this vessel.Use
The body of the lamp would have been filled with oil. A wick (made of organic rope) would have been placed in the wick hole on the spout. The wick would then have been lit to provide light indoors and at night.Context
The Iron Age IIA-B sees the further expansion of the Israelites into various parts of the region, including some of the larger cities. In archaeological finds, this is reflected in the dominance of “Israelite” elements over older local cultures. However, in terms of lamps, the open form with a pinched spout and rounded base represents a continuation of the Canaanite lamp from the Bronze Age and early Iron Age I. Notably, many of these lamps may have had a cultic function alongside their practical function. It was apparently common practice to place an oil lamp between two large bowls as a foundation offering, as is evident at sites like Tel Mique.Collection
Near EastMade/Created
Date made
800 BCE - 701 BCETime Period
Iron AgePlace
Area
Syria-PalestineEthnography
Cultural Region
Region
IsraelArea
Syria-PalestineCulture/Tribe
Near Eastern - Israelite