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and discussions of the objects in the catalogue are to appear subsequently, as are the complete copy and text of Frahm's prism. The joint authorship of three scholars, discussing the his- tory of a single building, ensures some differences of opin- ion and emphasis; such is often the case when different indi- viduals publish the same material, and is welcome, but there could have been more coordination. It is hardly sensible that Pedde should have employed a chronology, for Middle Assyrian kings, which is ten years higher than Lundström's ARCHEOLOGIE (compare pages 32 and 138, and if in doubt opt for Lund- ström!). Pedde describes and discusses the archaeological evidence PEDDE, F., und S. LUNDSTRÖM — Der Alte Palast in in detail. The earliest levels in this area were traced with the Assur. Architektur und Baugeschichte, 2 Bände. Letzte help of tunnels, because Andrae did not wish to destroy the Band: Faltpläne. (Baudenkmäler aus assyrischer Zeit 11, better-preserved upper levels, but he extracted essential data. WVDOG 120). Verlag Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden, The early pottery can be dated to the later third millennium 2008. (35 cm, 206, 34 Tafeln; Plan 1-5). ISBN 978-3- BC. Pedersen has identified an archive of Old Akkadian 447-05727-1. ISSN 0342-4464. / 82,-. school texts from these levels, and an Old Assyrian archive The quality of the recording of the excavations at the apparently associated with remains of a monumental build- Assyrian capital-city of Ashur, initiated in 1903 by Robert ing to which Miglus assigned the name Schotteraufbau, Koldewey, passed immediately to Walter Andrae, and con- superseding earlier designations. This was perhaps the city's tinued by Andrae and colleagues until 1914, is astonishing. principal administrative building in the Old Assyrian period. Pedde in the current volume occasionally regrets one or A subsequent monumental building was represented by an another omission from Andrae's records, but they were extensive set of foundation trenches, producing a regular incomparably better than those of his contemporary, Leonard ground-plan, within which mudbrick foundations were later King, who was working during 1904-5 not far away at Nin- laid; this reviewer was pleased to find Pedde reviving the old eveh. The quality and quantity of the Ashur publications, suggestion that these foundation trenches and walls represent despite the intervention of two disastrous European wars, the palace of Shamshi-Adad I ultimately demolished by have also been astonishing. First there were extracts from the Puzur-Sin. One might compare the thorough demolition of field reports published in MDOG, and later a series of spe- the palace at Tell al-Rimah. The ground-plan of this monu- cialised monographs, in addition to Andrae's own popular mental building has come to be regarded as the Urplan for book. As for the area occupied by the Alte Palast, promi- the area, influencing subsequent Middle Assyrian palaces, but nently located on the northern side of the outcrop on which limited space was probably a more decisive factor. the city was built, it might have seemed that Preusser's 1955 After many centuries of construction and renovation under monograph, Die Paläste von Assur (WVDOG 66), had told Middle Assyrian kings, the palace was substantially rebuilt us enough about it, but not so. We have since had further by Ashurnasirpal II. Pedde provides such information as sur- detailed studies, notably by Miglus, and here now is another vives about these developments, and discusses how far the solid volume dedicated to this area alone, with a compact disc evidence can sustain identifications of particular sets of inside the back cover and a separate volume of plans. rooms as having particular ritual or domestic functions, with It is essentially several books or papers rather than one. In reference to the ground-plans of comparable palaces else- the main volume, after preliminaries and a bibliography, we where. Some of the comparative evidence is obvious and first have Pedde's study of the excavations and the architec- helpful, but it can also be alarmingly complicated. One prob- ture (pages 21-62, with a helpful summary on pages 63-5); lem is that Nineveh played an important role as an Assyrian then extracts from the excavators' diaries (pages 67-75); then royal centre. There is evidence for the existence of royal a catalogue, with publication references when available but palaces there from the Middle Assyrian period on, and they without illustrations, of 1122 objects excavated in the palace, are likely to have been significant in the evolution of palace together with concordances for Assur excavation numbers design, but next to nothing is known about their appearance and for Berlin and Istanbul museum numbers (pages 77-132); before the seventh century. then Lundström's history of the palace according to Pedde follows his discussion of the architecture of the cuneiform sources, with internal indices (pages 133-99); then Neo-Assyrian palace with a detailed description of each Frahm's annotated transliteration and translation of part of a room; this includes long quotations from Preusser's previous Sennacherib prism of about 690 BC apparently concerning book. Pedde also provides some details of the royal graves the palace (pages 201-4); and finally 34 plates, of which Taf. and other graves in the palace, including those on the east- 2-8 are plans showing stages in the development of the palace ern side whose stratigraphic situation, before or after the sack while Taf. 9-34 (or rather Abb. 9-82) mainly show pho- of Ashur in 614 BC, is unclear. Some of these palace graves tographs of the excavations and a few of the things found were absent from Haller's compendium of such material there. An appended folder has five plans, mostly of the Auf- (WVDOG 65). It is a pity that their contents are not published nahmeplan type, including many elevations and indications more fully in the current volume. of the angles from which photographs were taken. The com- Lundström's history of the palace according to the pact disc is a delight; besides presenting the plans, pho- cuneiform sources, besides citing RIMA and other publica- tographs and other data in digital form, it enables one to tions, contains transliterations and translations, with com- move instantly from plan to photographic view. Illustrations mentaries, of virtually every relevant text, together with 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 587

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details of their excavation provenances. It is a comprehen- After finishing this book, I turned the clock back some 40 sive treatment ensuring many very long footnotes. Lundström years and consulted my 1970 PhD dissertation, glancing also discusses whether it is possible to assign particular through the ten pages which deal with this selfsame subject, names, known from the texts, to particular parts of the build- the Alte Palast. I had used the information then available, ing, and does not enthuse over the possibilities. We are mainly from Andrae's original reports and Preusser's book. mostly left with well-known items such as the association It was slightly disconcerting to observe that, despite all the between the entrance of the palace and the bit sahuri. efforts of the authors of the current volume, the history of One question which all three authors address (notably on this building remains almost as confusing now as it was then. pages 34, 41, 57, 170-2, 183, 201-3), without reaching a con- The evidence, however, is more abundant and has been sensus, concerns the location and nomenclature of the royal arranged in a far more accessible form. The current volume throneroom. As recognised by Pedde, a room which would will be a fundamental work of reference for anyone con- seem to qualify, at least in and after the reign of Sen- cerned with the history of Ashur, and it provides a fine exam- nacherib, as what we conventionally call a “throneroom”, is ple of how excavations should be published. Room 22, on the northern edge of the palace, with a grand door leading north. This was the widest and probably longest London Julian READE surviving room in the Neo-Assyrian palace, measuring some University of Copenhagen 8 by an estimated 33 meters (compared with 10 by 46 meters for the throneroom of Ashurnasirpal's palace at Nimrud). It ** was provided with what appear to have been a throne-base * and a libation slab in the appropriate positions at the eastern end. Fragments of human-headed winged bulls, which HUOT, J-L. — Une archéologie des peuples du Proche-Orient. seemed to have been built into the foundations of Sen- Tome II: Des hommes de palais aux sujets des premiers nacherib's renovations, probably derived from the work of empires. (IIe–Ier millénaire av. J.-C.) Éditions Errance, Ashur-bel-kala or Ashurnasirpal II on or around Room 22. Paris, 2004. (25 cm, 252). ISBN 2-87772-268-6. / 27,-. Frahm further suggests that Rooms 21 and the adjoining Room 22 had functioned as a kummu or possible throne- The volume reviewed here is the second volume of Jean- room, besides speculating that they had been converted into Louis Huot’s Une archéologie des peuples du Proche-Ori- a chapel by Ashurnasirpal II and converted back by Sen- ent. The first volume dealt with the archaeology of the nacherib. Lundström accepts that Rooms 21 and 22 might ancient Near East from the tenth millennium to the end of the have been the kummu. third millennium B.C. The second volume, organized into An apparent objection is that Room 22 resembles at first two chapters and a conclusion, discusses the archaeology of sight an external entrance to the palace, a strange place for a the second and first millennia B.C. until the conquests of throneroom. This is not certain, however. The room could Alexander the Great. Each chapter starts with a general intro- have been shielded by a forecourt in front, even if the prox- duction and then is divided into separate sections that discuss imity of the city-wall must have severely limited the space the archaeology of various regions. available. If we compare the familiar ground-plan of Ashur- The volume begins with a discussion of the Middle and nasirpal II's palace at Nimrud, we find that the famous Late Bronze Age periods in chapter 5 (“L’Orient des palais “throneroom” suite there also seems at first sight to possess (XXe-XIIIe siècles av. J.-C.)”). A brief discussion of Middle a grand forecourt in front of its facade, but at least some of Bronze Age Elam precedes the second, more detailed section this forecourt was built after Ashurnasirpal's reign and may on Mesopotamia during the Middle Bronze Age. A summary not have been part of the original plan. So Ashurnasirpal of Old Babylonian history precedes a discussion of the archi- could have had similarly disposed thronerooms, with rela- tecture from several sites, including Larsa, Tell Harmal, Ur, tively modest forecourts, at both Ashur and Nimrud. and Haradum. The iconography of the period is discussed One could then go on to propose that Room 22, or an through an examination of cylinder seals, sculpture, the Codex equivalent room in the same position in earlier versions of Hammurabi, and a cache of gold jewelry found in the E.Bab- the palace, was also the throneroom, under the name of the bar at Larsa. Middle Bronze Age Syria and the Levant are dis- bit labuni, within which major state rituals were performed. cussed in the third section of chapter 5 by focusing on a sin- There is indeed reason to link the bit labuni with the bit gle well excavated site from each sub-region. Thus palace and sahuri. Such an easily accessible position would have been temple architecture, scupture, glyptic, and wall paintings from convenient for several reasons, and would have maintained a Mari, Ebla, and Byblos are discussed in more detail with ref- decent distance from the domestic quarters. Lundström, how- erences to contemporary sites. The next section focuses on ever, would rather see the Middle Assyrian throneroom occu- Anatolia. Initially, discussion focuses on Kanesh (Kültepe) and pying a more traditional location deeper inside the palace; its karum before describing the Hittite period sites of Hattusha Pedde prefers to identify it with Room 30, off the inner court and Yazilikaya. The discussion in this section of Transcau- of the palace. Is it likely that the location of such an impor- casian sites (Maïkop and Trialéti) adds an interesting per- tant complex of rooms ever shifted, especially when the loca- spective to the Anatolian material. Sections five and six dis- tions of the domestic quarters and the approaches to the royal cuss the Late Bronze Age period. Section five focuses on Syria tombs may have remained unchanged? It would have been by briefly discussing the Mitanni sites of Alalakh IV, Tell Brak helpful to have this set of questions, which have in the past and Nuzi with a longer description of the finds from Ugarit attracted attention from perceptive authorities including Ernst and Emar. Late Bronze Age Cyprus is also included in this Weidner, brought together for consideration in a single place section before discussing some highlights from the Southern in this volume. Nonetheless, with patience, the references and Levant. The final section offers summaries of the history and arguments can be located. archaeology of Kassite Babylonia, Assyria and Elam. 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 588

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Chapter 6 (“Les cités côtières, les états nationaux et les described as maximizing the evidence. A lacuna in the data, empires (Ier millénaire)”), opens with two sections on the or a problem in interpretation are sometimes pointed out to Levant. The first section discusses the “Phoenician” and the reader, but mostly the archaeological data are presented in “Philistine” cities and the development of the alphabet, while such a way that they create the most complete narrative and the second section describes the Iron Age kingdoms of Juda, the fullest possible interpretation. Israël and the kingdoms in Jordan. Their history receives an Any publication that synthesizes material of such a broad extensive discussion along with the architecture, sculpture scope is bound to receive criticism. One could, for example, and stelae dating to this period. The third section discusses complain that the approach is too art historical. Indeed, most the Neo-Hittite and Aramaean kingdoms. The sites of Car- artifacts that appear in this volume can be described as mon- chemish, Karatepe, Zincirli, Tell Halaf, Tell Ahmar and umental, pictographic or precious. No ceramic profiles can Arslan Tash are discussed with a focus on the reliefs and stat- be found in this book and only decorated wares are displayed uary found at these sites. The fourth section is an excellent (e.g. Nuzi ware, 2nd millennium zoomorphic vessels from synthesis of the history and archaeology of Urartu. Many Anatolia, etc.). Such a complaint can be countered, however, Urartian sites receive detailed discussions that are elucidated because the artifacts often are employed to inform the reader by clear maps of the architecture and photographs of the arti- on some aspect of an ancient society, such as religious tradi- facts (bronzes, reliefs, wall paintings, statuary, furniture, etc.). tions or the concept of kingship. Moreover, where published The Neo-Assyrian period receives an equally splendid treat- excavations allow for it, domestic architecture is often pre- ment in the next section. A summary of Neo-Assyrian his- sented alongside monumental palaces and temples. In addi- tory precedes a clear description of the cities, palaces, reliefs, tion, the discussion of each region’s history introducing each wall paintings, statues and jewelry, all of which are accom- section of the book contextualizes the presentation of the panied by beautiful photographs. The sixth section of this archaeology and, moreover, creates an engaging narrative that chapter deals with the archaeology of the Neo-Babylonian is crucial to making any introductory textbook engaging and period. This section returns to the format of the earlier sec- readable. tions, discussing a single site (Babylon) in more detail as an A serious drawback of the volume, however, is the absence example for the entire period. All the large monuments are of any references in the text and the cursory bibliography. described and illustrated, while the problem of the ‘hanging This publication would have benefited greatly from a ‘Fur- gardens of Babylon’ is the subject of a longer discussion. The ther Readings’ list for each chapter, if not for each section. focus is not only on large monuments; the domestic houses Instead, the volume contains the same four-page bibliogra- excavated in the Merkesh area receive an equally detailed dis- phy that can be found at the end of the first volume. The cussion. This section ends with some brief notes on the fate choice to omit any references from the text undoubtedly con- of Babylon under the Achaemenid and the Seleucid Empires. tributes to its readability, but it makes it very hard for the The next section is a brief discussion of the Phrygian and interested reader to find more publications on a certain sub- Lydians. ject. Moreover, the few scholars whose names are mentioned The eighth section deals with the Medes and starts with a in the text cannot always be found in the bibliography, for critical analysis of Herodotus’ account and the Neo-Assyrian example: F. Zayadine (p. 118), S. Dalley (p. 179), A. sources. Huot then takes a step back to discuss the archaeol- LeMaire (p. 104), etc. ogy of western Iran, starting with Hasanlu (levels IV C – III) The absence of references sometimes clashes with the and continuing with Baba Jan and Tepe Nush-i Jan. A brief approach, mentioned above, of producing the fullest possible discussion of the Luristan bronzes and several 8th and 7th cen- interpretation and providing the most complete narrative pos- tury B.C. sites conclude this section. The ninth and final sec- sible. This clash is most notable in the discussion of the tion discusses the Achaemenid period. A history of the per- archaeology of Israel and Palestine in Chapter 6. No author tinent research flows into a discussion of the sources and a can be unaware of both the appeal and the politics that sur- very general outline of early Achaemenid history. Finally, a round this thorny issue. In a manner that is consistent with review of the monuments of Pasargadae precedes a discus- other sections of the book, textual sources (the Old Testa- sion of the Achaemenid remains at Susa and Persepolis and ment) and the archaeological record are combined in one nar- Naqsh-i Rustem, before summarizing volumes one and two rative. In such a narrative, the (familiar) details provided by in the conclusion. the (redacted) biblical sources will sound more convincing to This volume is certainly a great introduction to the archae- most readers than the less eloquent archaeological data. One ology of the ancient Near East in the second and first millen- or two references in this section would have added the nuance nium B.C. It is ambitious in its scope and very inclusive, that is present in the rest of the book. On the one hand, the reaching in certain sections across the traditional boundaries author contextualizes the development of Israel and Juda by of the Near East to indicate the contacts and affinities between comparing it to similar developments in Assur, Urartu and the material cultures of different peoples. Interspersed through several Transjordanian states (p. 89) where a single god also the text are explanations that introduce the reader to the dif- became the divine patron of the state. On the other hand, the ficulties of reconstructing the history and archaeology of the archaeological record is almost completely reconciled with ancient Near East. Explanations of the methodological prob- the Old Testament (p. 99-112), to the extent that biblical lems in, for example, interpreting the function of a building events are seen to be essentially, if not literally, true (e.g., the or establishing a precise archaeological chronology provide exodus from Egypt, p. 104). the nuance that is essential to the correct understanding of the Nevertheless, this book provides a good introduction to the broad summaries provided in this book. Such nuances are archaeology of the Near East during the Middle and Late inserted into the fabric of the text with great skill, guiding the Bronze Ages as well as the Iron Age. The text is very read- reader through these obstacles without interrupting the narra- able and presents its subject matter in a very accessible man- tive of this book. The approach of this publication can be ner. This book excels in its narrative that guides the reader 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 589

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through the archaeology of almost two millennia from the features (ceramic, architectural or stylistic) for ED II can be enormous geographical area that we call the Near East. More- identified. (Evans 2007, “The Square Temple at Tell Asmar over, the book is lavishly illustrated with beautiful, clear pho- and the Construction of Early Dynastic Mesopotamia, ca. tographs and many informative architectural plans. The fact 2900-2350 B.C.E.” in AJA 111: 599-632.) The section on the that these illustrations are directly inserted into the text relative chronology is concluded by a brief discussion of the ensures that the reader immediately understands the author’s C-14 dates and the dating of the astronomical readings that arguments and makes the reading very enjoyable. fix Hammurabi’s year of accession. The rest of the chapter discusses the evidence for the political structure (temple and Dept. NELC, University of Chicago Vincent VAN EXEL palace), social classes, private ownership and how these soci- 12-29-2008 eties changed as the earliest cities evolved into city states and empires. The first half of chapter three is an excellent summary of ** the study of the settlement patterns on the Mesopotamian * floodplain, the Diyala valley and the Hamrin basin. Clear and concise the restrictions of the survey data are explained CRAWFORD, H. — Sumer and the Sumerians. (Second before Crawford proceeds to discuss the settlement patterns Edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, for each period from the Ubaid to the Ur III and Isin-Larsa 2004. (24, cm, X, 252). ISBN 0-521-82596-2 (hbk); periods. The second half of this chapter presents an equally 0-521-53338-4 (pbk). £ 45,- (hbk); £ 19,99 (pbk). clear introduction on the agriculture that was practiced in this With this book Harriet Crawford has provided the reader region. The influence of the river regimes on the irrigation with a concise and very readable introduction to the archae- practices are explained along with summaries of which plants ology and history of the Mesopotamian plain from 3800 to were grown, what tools were used and what social classes 2000 B.C. The main addition to this book, first published in were involved in these agricultural activities. A discussion of 1991, is a new chapter on all the recent research in Upper animal husbandry and hunting closes this chapter. Mesopotamia. The first chapter introduces the subject matter Chapter four discusses town planning and temple archi- and starts with a brief summary of the early exploration and tecture, while chapter five gives a review of the public build- the history of research in this area. A description of the phys- ings and the private houses. These chapters provide excellent ical environment of the (ancient) Near East then follows. The introductions to the Mesopotamian architecture of these peri- reader is introduced to the debates on the ancient courses of ods. More importantly, Crawford deftly avoids overgeneral- the Euphrates and Tigris and the position of the head of the izations and takes the reader through the evidence of each Gulf. The influence of the river regimes on irrigation agri- periods and even discussing regional differences for the culture are also discussed along with the scarcity of non-agri- respective periods. Both change and continuity are addressed cultural raw materials in Southern Mesopotamia. and the reader is introduced to some scholarly debate, for Although the emphasis of the book is on description rather example J.D. Forest’s arguments for the reinterpretation of than explanation, an explanation of the rise of complex soci- the function of the third millennium temples. (p.75-6) eties nevertheless slips into the text. Unfortunately, it is stated Chapter six is a new addition to the second edition and dis- in its reversed logical order: more complex social structures cusses the evidence from more recent excavations in Upper did not develop in order to enable large-scale settlement in Mesopotamia. Focusing on the sites of Tepe Gawra, Tell Southern Mesopotamia’s inhospitable environment. More Brak, Tell Taya, Tell Chuera, Tell Beydar and Tell Mozan, correctly, the (here unexplained) development of more com- Crawford gives an overview of the developments in Upper plex social structures was a prerequisite that enabled the pop- Mesopotamia that can be contrasted to her in-depth discus- ulation to grow beyond the initial limitations of the environ- sion of the same issues that she discussed in separate chap- ment during the Uruk period. ters for Southern Mesopotamia: settlement patterns, burial A section on the relationships between settled farmers and customs, monumental and domestic architecture. In addition, pastoralists ends with a discussion of the relationship research topics specific to Upper Mesopotamia are also intro- between “ethnic” Sumerians and “ethnic” Semites. Craw- duced such as the Kranzhügel phenomenon and the influence ford presents several perspectives: either Semitic nomads of climatic change on the disruption at the end of the Akkad immigrated into Sumer, or they were sedentary peoples liv- period. Curiously absent from the discussion here is Ebla, ing North of Sumer, or the population of Mesopotamia had although references to Ebla are made in other chapters. always been mixed. Crawford clearly favors the Semitic Chapter seven “Life, death and the meaning of the uni- nomad theory. The chapter ends with a discussion of the verse” begins with an extended section on the burials from major routes of transportation. Tepe Gawra in Upper Mesopotamia. From there Crawford The second chapter discusses the chronology and history descends South again discussing the cemeteries at Kheit Mesopotamia from the start of the Uruk period to the end of Qasim, Khafaje, Kish and, of course, the Royal Cemetery of the Ur III period. The tripartite division of the Early Dynas- Ur. The rich finds in some of these graves allow Crawford to tic period is maintained by Crawford despite criticism that no discuss more vividly some aspects of Mesopotamian society, diagnostic ceramics can be identified for this period outside such as dress, crafts and methods of transportation as jew- of the Diyala region (Algaze 1983-84, Zettler 1989, Porada elry, tools, carts and models of boats were included among et al. 1992, “The Chronology of Mesopotamia, ca. 7000-1600 the grave goods. B.C.” in COWA 1: 107-108). Moreover, since the publica- The book has now shifted its focus more to artifacts in tion of this second edition it has been shown that even for the their own right, discussing their origins and production. Oriental Institute excavations in the Diyala region — which The “manufacturing industries” in chapter eight are intro- formed the basis of the tripartite division — no diagnostic duced by what textual records have revealed concerning the 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 590

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organization of labor. The rest of the chapter discusses in Although some chances have been missed to improve upon turn textile manufacture, pottery making, metal-working and the graphics of the first edition, the text nevertheless provides stone-working. Agricultural production had already been an excellent and readable introduction to the period. The real dealt with in chapter three. Chapter nine focuses on trade achievement of this slim book is that Crawford does not over- (very broadly defined) and integrates information from text- generalize, but leaves the reader with an understanding of ual sources, material studies and archaeology to create an both the broad patterns as well as the differences between interesting summary of the development of contact between regions in Mesopotamia and through time. Mesopotamia and other regions (Anatolia, Iran, the Gulf and the Indus). Dept. NELC, University of Chicago Vincent VAN EXEL Chapter ten explains what is known (and what remains 04-24-2009 puzzling) concerning the development of both writing and (cylinder) seals. Crawford not only introduces Schmandt- ** Besserat’s argument for clay tokens as the predecessors to * cuneiform writing but also leaves open the possibility that the development of the cuneiform writing may have occurred in FRANKEN, H.J. — A History of Potters and Pottery in Elam or elsewhere in Iran. The prehistoric stamp seals from Ancient Jerusalem. Excavations by K.M. Kenyon in Ras Shamra, Bouqras, Tell Sabi Abyad and Tepe Gawra are Jerusalem 1961-1967. Equinox Publishing Limited, Lon- quoted as the start of the tradition of the use of seal impres- don, 2005. (25 cm, XVIII, 214). ISBN 1-904768-68-7 sions as a sign of ownership and responsibility. This is fol- (hbk). £ 85,- / $ 115,-. lowed by a more extended discussion of the developments in style and subject matter on cylinder seals from the Middle Traditions govern consciously and unconsciously our daily Uruk to the end of the Ur III period. The chapter ends with lives, as was also the case for the production and distribution a similar discussion of the developments in two types of stone of pottery in ancient times. This notion of traditions that gov- works of art: sculpture and stele. Although the emphasis is ern the production of pottery was for the Southern Levant for on a discussion of style and craftsmanship, Crawford also the first time really introduced by H. J. Franken. This idea mentions the reconstructed functions of these works of art. was based on the concepts of the school of contextual This book concludes with a concise summary (chapter 11) in ceramic studies, initiated by amongst others the work of Anna which Crawford’s affection for Sumerian society becomes Shepard. Franken focussed his research not on the shape of very clear as she laments its destruction. A destruction the objects, but on the aspects of their production and distri- wrought by the Gutian hordes as well as the looting in the bution and their development through time. The work under aftermath of the second Gulf War. review was his last work concerning this topic, and also the The second edition of Sumer and the Sumerians provides final publication of his research into the ceramic repertoire a concise and inclusive, as well as a very readable survey of that was unearthed by the excavations of the British School the archaeology and history of fourth and third millennium of Archaeology in Jerusalem. These were conducted on the Mesopotamia. However, a recommended reading section for Ophel hill, the former heart of Ancient Jerusalem, under each chapter would have been invaluable for anyone (student direction of Dame Kathleen Kenyon. or otherwise) who wishes to go beyond the intended purpose Franken begins his book with a short introduction of the of the book as an introduction to the subject for students. In provenance of the studied sherds and a brief explanation of addition, whereas the text is consistent in its clarity, it is a Kenyon’s as well as Franken’s approach to the study of the disappointment that the graphics were not improved upon in ceramic repertoire from the Jerusalem excavations. this second edition. The maps are of poor quality: they show In the first chapter, Franken gives a thorough and logical too few sites and include no modern boundaries to orient the explanation of why the usage of a ceramic typology without reader; geographical features beyond the Euphrates and the a theoretical foundation is not satisfactory. He makes the cor- Tigris Rivers are omitted. (See for example maps 2, 3 and 9 rect observation that ceramics were not meant for dating on pages 7, 14 and 181.) Chapter nine suffers especially from strata and therefore the study of these artefacts should be the absence of a good map because so many regions and sites altered. His main criticism concerns the absence of the pot- outside of Mesopotamia are mentioned. ters in most ceramic studies. He notes that each ceramic Moreover, the illustrations, comprised of line drawings of typology is governed by the acts and choices of potters and the ancient artifacts, are very poor. They often show only consequently the construction of a typology has to take this small parts of artifacts and thus fail to convey a real sense of aspect into account. For instance, variation in the position and the material culture. When one sees the drawing of Naram- shape of the rim stems from the techniques used as well as Sin’s image copied from the Victory Stele (p. 22), for exam- the amount of workshops. In addition, Franken correctly ple, it is difficult to imagine what might be alluring about this addresses the fact that many archaeologists assume that there ruler’s body, as described by Irene Winter (1996, “Sex, was a simultaneous change in the production of ceramics rhetoric and the public monument: the alluring body of throughout a region, although this would be very unlikely. Naram-Sin of Agade” in: N.B. Kampen (ed.) Sexuality in They argue without taking into account the amount of possi- Ancient Art). A comparison of the two photographs with the ble potter’s workshops, which determines the possible large drawing of the Bassetki copper figure (p.171-2) illus- amount of variation. This and other matters can only be trates what is lost in the latter. Chapters four and five do how- addressed, according to Franken, when a ceramic repertoire ever form an exception to this criticism of the graphics as is studied on basis of the notion of traditions, which under- they are clearly illustrated with plans of the architecture and lie the production and distribution of these objects. At the end reconstruction drawings of Khafajeh’s Temple Oval, Ur’s of the chapter he mentions the criteria for a thorough study Ziggurat and a modern Iraqi rural village. of ancient ceramic assemblages. 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 591

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Franken discusses in the following chapters a sequence of II. The Iron Age Extramural Quarter on the South-East Hill) chronological assemblages from Ancient Jerusalem. The and the research of a part of the post-exilic material are syn- results of their study are further discussed and synthesised in thesised in chapter six. This chapter presents the development chapter 12. of the ceramic repertoire during the Iron Age, which also The first ceramic assemblage encountered in the excavated includes the first period after the Neo-Babylonian destruction assemblage was a small collection of sherds from the Early of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. Franken describes a continuous Bronze Age I and II. This group is discussed in chapter 2 and development of the local production of ceramics from the in section 12.2.1. Most of the concerning sherds, except two Middle Bronze Age II onwards. Firstly, the repertoire of the groups from caves, are singular finds from deposits on 12th century B.C. shows the decline of the Middle Bronze bedrock or were encountered in later assemblages. In total Age tradition to a technologically lesser and often flawed nine fabric types have been distinguished within the assem- ceramic production. This degradation was also encountered blage and much seems not to have been locally made, when by the author in the ceramic repertoire of Late Bronze Age compared to the Iron Age pottery. Franken explains that the Tell Deir ‘Alla in the Eastern Central Jordan Valley (see H.J. coarse nature of the wares partly stems from the lack of Franken 1969: Excavations at Tell Deir ‘Alla. A Strati- knowledge in dealing with plasticity of the original clays. The graphical and Analytical Study of the Early Iron Age Pot- heavily tempered clays enable luting different parts together tery; 1992: Excavations at Tell Deir ‘Alla. The Late Bronze as occurs frequently in the case of the predominantly hand- Age Sanctuary). He assumes that a similar process had taken made pottery from the Early Bronze Age. Additionally, place for the local ceramic production in the region of coarsely tempered fabrics do not demand special require- Jerusalem, although the Late Bronze Age material is limited. ments in wall thickness and drying infrastructure as plastic This assumption is based on the continuing dominant usage clays would. Franken’s suggestion that the population was of the Wadi Rephaim clay, which was also used as the main semi-nomadic is questionable on basis of solely this infor- clay source in the Middle Bronze Age II. However, it must mation. One should require more etnoarchaeological and be remarked that the continuity in clay use alone does not archaeological data in support of this argument. prove continuity of a potter’s tradition. In addition, Franken Chapter 3 and section 12.2.3 deal with the next ceramic supposes the presence of the potters in the Wadi Rephaim, assemblage that dates to the Middle Bronze Age II, from the however these could also have lived in the probable, although 19th B.C. onwards. It is in sharp contrast with the preceding until now undiscovered, small town on the Ophel. From here period. Now different clays, new shaping techniques and dif- they would have travelled to the clay source to mine the clay. ferent drying and firing procedures were found in the ceramic Evidence for a Late Bronze Age settlement somewhere in assemblage. The introduction of wheel made and especially Jerusalem are several tombs and some fragments of Late fast wheel made pottery is mainly the reason behind these Bronze Age Cypriote pottery. changes. The latter technique, which is based on the appli- Several changes in aspects of the local ceramic traditions cation of the centrifugal force to create a vessel, is new. As are observed, from the 10th century B.C. onwards. Firstly, the Franken correctly remarks, this technique is frequently con- repertoire becomes more standardised despite the rise in num- nected with a rise in produced vessels, while for the Middle ber of types. In addition the distribution of types changes Bronze Age this is not the applicable. Wheel thrown vessels throughout the period. from this period are still quite labour-intensive due to the A second observed aspect is a shift in the used clay source attention put into the production of each vessel. This new and the prepared fabrics. After a gap or decrease in occupa- technique required a change from the previously used non- tion during the 11th century B.C., the new ceramic repertoire plastic heavily tempered fabrics to plastic wares as is seen in from the expanded or new occupation of the site shows rad- Jerusalem. In addition, the leather-hard vessels had to be ical changes in clay use. The Wadi Rephaim wares were now shielded from direct sunlight and had to be dried in a special far less frequently encountered, while the fabric groups of draught-free room in order to prevent cracking and warping category A, rose in prominence. These were, according to of the vessels. Also the firing process had to be controlled to Franken, made from a locally available non-plastic fossili- a greater detail to prevent cracking of the vessels. Further- ferous clay, which indicates the establishment of potters more, the firing temperature had to be below 800 degrees closer to the town of Jerusalem. This clay deposition was Celsius to prevent lime spalling. Likely the majority of the used until the beginning of the ‘exile’. Prior to the ninth cen- produced vessels were made of a plastic clay from the Wadi tury B.C., the dominant fabric that was made from this new Rephaim, which is situated southwest of Ancient Jerusalem. clay, was a quartz sand tempered ware. Subsequently the clay Summarizing, the tradition of pottery production during the was mainly tempered with lime sand. For the cooking pots Middle Bronze Age II was markedly different from the pre- the dominant ware, no. 14, with a high amount of calcite was ceding period. in the Iron Age II replaced by a fabric with high amount of An important period for Jerusalem, and maybe in our quartz sand, no. 12, and to a lesser extent by a fabric with- Western conception the most significant era, is the Iron Age. out any additions, no. 8. Later on the latter ware type In chapter 4 and in section 12.2.3, Franken commences the becomes dominant. Franken connects this last trend with a study of this period with a discussion of the ceramic assem- general decrease of quartz sand as temper. However, despite blage from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age transition, which a decrease of the general amount of cooking pots within the covers the 12th century B.C. Subsequently, he deals in chap- assemblage, the percentage of quartz tempered cooking ware ter 5 and section 12.2.5 with the collection of sherds from the remains despite a decrease still high with 41,3% of the cook- tenth century B.C. town. The results of these two studies in ing pots in the 7th century B.C. combination with the data from the previously published In chapter 6 also the results from the study of post-exilic study of the Iron Age II-material (H.J. Franken and M.L. pottery are included, which are oddly treated in the follow- Steiner 1991: Excavations in Jerusalem 1961-1967, Volume ing chapters 7 and 8 and partly in section 12.2.6. It would 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 592

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have been better to reverse the order. Notwithstanding, the ceramic production at and/or near Jerusalem during sev- Franken shows that the Iron II shapes were also produced in eral millennia. Although sometimes hindered by a bit chaotic post-destruction layers, although with a different fabric than ordering of data as well as a few too hasty conclusions, the was dominant in the preceding period. The post-exilic ceram- book nevertheless provides a valuable insight in the vicissi- ics were mostly made from the plastic Wadi Rephaim clay, tudes of this town as well as in the dynamic nature of the pot- of which the use resurged again after a period of decline dur- tery production in this region. In addition, the book forms a ing the Iron Age II. The dominant fabric of the seventh cen- good apologia for the contextual study of ceramics, which was tury B.C., ware no. 2, has however not been encountered in for this work based on Franken’s notion of ceramic traditions. the post-exilic ceramics. Franken likely correctly states that This work clearly illustrates the disadvantages of a pure typo- it can be assumed that other nearby potters took over when logical approach as is for instance illustrated by the case of the potters were killed, fled or sent into exile after the the post-exilic ceramic repertoire. Kenyon had discarded all destruction of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. This overview of the the Iron Age II ceramics from the post-exilic layers, while fabrics and techniques in this chapter shows firstly that fab- these continued to be produced as can be judged on the pres- rics do not have to but can change in periods of political or ence of a new post-Iron II-fabric. Therefore, as Franken stated social upheaval. Secondly, drastic changes within the fabric throughout his long and fruitful career, the study of ceramic distribution can also occur within a stable period as the Iron assemblages has to transcend its purpose for dating layers and II Judean Monarchy. to focus on the study of the context of the production and dis- Chapter 7 deals with an assemblage that dates from the tribution of ceramics to obtain a valuable insight into a soci- earliest post-destruction occupation, which was found in a ety. It is regretted that archaeologists in this region and espe- post-destruction dump in square XVIII. Besides the continu- cially those working on the biblical period remain reluctant to ation of Iron Age shapes, the introduction of some new fully implement this notion, which has so many advantages shapes, like the ‘Persian’ cooking pot and some juglets, is as is testified by this book and his visionary author. observed. In this chapter it also shown that the quartz tem- pered cooking pot types became dominant again. Further- Delft University of Technology, Niels C. F. GROOT more, the black slip-glazed Attic ware appeared in a limited June 2009 amount, while the import and imitation of Greek plain wares also had begun. In chapter 8 the other ancient dumps the local ** style ceramics from the Persian to Hellenistic periods are dis- * cussed, while in chapter 9 and partly section 12.2.6 all the Greek-style pottery from these dumps is discussed. This espe- SPARKS, R.T. ⎯ Stone Vessels in the Levant. (The cially concerns the Hellenistic era and deals with the imports Palestine Exploration Fund Annual VIII). Maney as well as with the local production of this type of vessels. Publishing, Leeds, 2007. (28 cm, XVIII, 488). ISBN In total four fabric types could be identified that had a Greek 978-1-904350-97-2. ISSN 1753-9234. £ 96.00; $ 198.00. origin. Besides an Attic group, three Corinthian fabric types could be distinguished. These fabric types were found in the A thorough and comprehensive study of stone vessels slipped wares as well as a part of the non-slipped wares. Fur- found in the Levant had hitherto always been neglected by thermore, it seems that also Palestinian regions were supply- Egyptologists and Near Eastern archaeologists alike.1) Stone ing the Jerusalem pottery market with imitations of Greek Vessels in the Levant thus fills this gap by presenting a sys- ceramics. Franken explains why the local industry could not tematic analysis of an exhaustive compilation of stone ves- imitate these vessels due to the requirements that a clay bed sels from numerous relevant sites in the eastern Mediter- should have to be suitable as a basis for this Greek-style pot- ranean, covering Palestine/Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and tery. coastal/western Syria. While stone vessels of earlier and later In chapter 10 and partly section 12.2.6 the ceramics from the late Hellenistic/Early Roman period are discussed. These are found in dumps down the eastern slope of the Ophel hill 1) For earlier works dealing with stone vessels in the Levant see also and at site C. (the list is not exhaustive): Ch. Lilyquist, Egyptian Stone Vessels: Khian through Tuthmosis IV (New York 1995); Id., Stone Vessels at Kamid el- In chapter 11 and section 12.2.7 the Byzantine pottery cor- Loz: Egyptian, Egyptianizing, or Non-Egyptian? A Question at Sites from pus is treated. The exact date of the assemblage is unclear the Sudan to Iraq to the Greek Mainland, in: R. Hachmann (ed.), Kamid due to their provenance from a mixed context. In general the el-Loz 16, “Schatzhaus”-Studien, Saarbrücker Beiträge zur Altertumskunde fabrics of this repertoire cannot be compared with those of 59 (Bonn 1996), 133-174; R.T. Sparks, Egyptian Stone Vessels in Syro- Palestine during the Second Millennium B.C. and their Impact on the Local the preceding post-exilic and Iron Age periods, except for a Stone Vessel Industry, in: G. Bunnens (ed.), Cultural Interaction in the fabric that was made from the Wadi Rephaim clay, ware no. Ancient Near East, Papers Read at a Symposium Held at the University of 4. Furthermore now also glazed pottery as well as a white fir- Melbourne, Department of Classics and Archaeology (29-30 September ing pottery are encountered. Technologically the pottery does 1994), Abu-Nahrain Supplement Series 5 (Leuven 1996), 51-66; Id., Stone Vessel Workshops in the Levant: Luxury Products of a Cosmopolitan Age, not differ that much from the preceding period. in: A.J. Shortland (ed.), The Social Context of Technological Change: In section 12.2.8 Franken makes some remarks about the Egypt and the Near East, 1650-1150 BC, Proceedings of a Conference Held Islamic potters, but due to the relative low amount of Islamic at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, 12-14 September 2000 (Oxford 2001), 93-112; ceramics it was not possible to conduct a detailed study of Id., Egyptian Stone Vessels and the Politics of Exchange (2617-1070 BC), in: R. Matthews/C. Roemer (eds), Ancient Perspectives on Egypt (London the corpus from this period. 2003), 39-56 and recently A. Bevan, Stone Vessels and Values in the In the Appendix Margreet Steiner discusses the stratigra- Bronze Age Mediterranean (Cambridge 2007). See now also: B. Lagarce, phy of the upper layers in area A. Réexamen des monuments du Palais royal d’Ougarit inscrits en hiéro- Concluding, this work by H. Franken provides a solid and glyphes égyptiens conservés au Musée national de Damas, in: V. Matoïan (ed.), Ras Shamra – Ougarit (RSO) XVII: Le mobilier du Palais Royal valuable overview of the developments that took place within d’Ougarit (Paris 2008), 261-280. 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 593

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periods are also occasionally being dealt with for typological are not always entirely clear. According to Sparks’ definition, and chronological comparisons, the general focus of the work a stone vessel is to be labeled “Egyptian” which “has been is on the second millennium BC (i.e. Middle- and Late made by craftsmen trained in Egyptian techniques and styles Bronze Ages, Iron Age). of stoneworking, irrespective of their actual nationality or the In the introduction to the volume (Chapter 1, “Introduc- physical location of the workshop” (p. 14). Apart from this tion,” pp. 1-7), Sparks shortly outlines her principal research definition generally ruling out the possibility that local Lev- parameters and defines “problems inherent in the dataset,” antine workshops themselves were able to produce stone ves- e.g. the apparent lack of clarity concerning stone identifica- sels much like the Egyptian “prototypes” (although unfortu- tion and terminology, the “impact of heirlooms and tomb nately there is not much evidence for that yet), a number of looting on vessel chronology,” and the problem of using the stone vessels listed in Sparks’ catalogue as ‘Egyptian’ inscribed stone vessels for dating contexts, assemblages or also rather seem to have better parallels in the Levant than in deposition (pp. 4-7). Egypt – although they were apparently produced with Egypt- A large part of the volume is devoted to a detailed pre- ian techniques.4) Concerning the detectable manufacturing sentation and analysis of the collected material. Crucial to techniques of these vessels, there is no clear difference to be this work is Sparks’ typological grouping of the large corpus seen between most of them and their Egyptian counterparts. into “Minoan”, “Cypriot,” “Egyptian,” and “Local” (i.e. Does this then argue for an Egyptian origin of these vessels Levantine) stone vessels, thereby differentiating between or is it plausible to at least consider Levantine manufacture? imported stone vessels (Chapter 2, “Imported Stone Ves- The question of origin and manufacture is indeed very diffi- sels”, pp. 8-91)2) and locally produced Levantine stone ves- cult to tackle and the answer to it probably lies in a system- sels (Chapter 3, “Local Stone Vessels”, pp. 92-151). atic analysis not only of the shape of the vessel in question, In each of these sections, an examination of the vessels is but also in further studies of geological provenancing and conducted with the different stone vessels being organized manufacturing techniques. Future research may alter the gen- into a typological framework with related subdivisions. These eral picture considerably. Furthermore, there are a number of results are then used to trace and describe the origin and stone vessels found in the northern Levant that are not Egypt- development of the different classes of vessels and the rela- ian in shape, but most probably locally produced vessels tionship between imported and locally manufactured stone without clear parallels (“Vessels of Uncertain Origin,” pp. vessels. 147-149)5) as well as several workshops attested in the north- While the majority of the imported stone vessels in the Lev- ern Levant that produced stone vessels (“Syrian Stone Ves- ant discussed in chapters 2 and 3 are clearly to be identified sels,” pp. 120-125), among them the “Royal Workshop at as of Egyptian origin3) and thus generally seem to have good Atchana” (pp. 120-123) and the “Chlorite Workshops at Ras typological and chronological parallels in Egypt, the locally Shamra” (pp. 123-125). All of these examples taken together produced stone vessels are much more difficult to character- may at least seem to hint to – however limited the evidence ize at times and commonly display local typological features is – the existence of Levantine workshops imitating certain restricted to only a specific region in the Levant. Within this forms and features usually connected to the Egyptian stone distinctive repertoire of Levantine stone vessels, Sparks is able vessel repertoire.6) That these thoughts and considerations do to define several workshops in the regions of the northern not minimize Sparks’ excellent work in any way should be Levant (Tell Açana/Alalakh, Ras Samra/Ugarit), the Jordan Valley (probably to be located at the sites of Jericho, Beth 4) Just as an example, while the ‘juglets imitating Cypriot base-ring Shean and Pella), the Jezreel Valley (Megiddo), and perhaps ware’ (pp. 35-38, §3.1.9.4) clearly were originally inspired by Cypriot southern Palestine (Tell el-Farah South, Tell el-‘Ajjul). ceramic prototypes (most notably the bilbil), the adapted hybrid forms in However, the reasons and parameters given for addressing stone are well attested both in Egypt and the Levant. Among the stone ves- certain stone vessels presented in the catalogue as “Egyptian” sels of this type found in the Levant, there is a possible sub-group made of serpentine (also ‘serpentinite’) which seems to be of local manufacture as the specific material used for these vessels is found in the region of Ras Samra/Ugarit, see: C. Elliott, The Ground Stone Industry, in: M. Yon (ed.), 2) Interestingly, the number of Minoan and Cypriote stone vessels found Ras Shamra – Ougarit (RSO) VI: Arts et industries de la pierre (Paris 1991), in the Levant, according to Sparks’ analysis, apparently comprises not more 9-100; especially fig. 1, p. 10. The distribution of this sub-group may be than 14 vessels altogether and are – admittedly not very surprising – exclu- confined to the northern Levant, with only two examples being attested at sively found at northern Levantine coastal sites such as Tell Açana/Alalakh, Tell Misrife/Qatna (not yet published, see A. Ahrens, Die Steingefäße aus Ras Samra/Ugarit and Byblos. der Königsgruft und dem Palast von Qatna: Verteilung, Typenspektrum und 3) To table 3 on p. 76 (“Egyptian Stone Vessels with Inscriptions”) one Funktion, in: P. Pfälzner [ed.], Qatna-Studien I, forthcoming) and Kamid can add a fragment of a stone vessel with the royal names of Sesostris I el-Loz so far (see Lilyquist 1996, 153; pl. 21:1 [Miron 404; KL 78:573], found at Qatna, although no specific type of vessel can be reconstructed (a from the ‘Schatzhaus’). This specific kind of serpentine utilized was appar- bowl?), see: A. Roccati, A Stone Fragment Inscribed with Names of ently also used for the manufacture of other types of stone vessels, inter- Sesostris I Discovered at Qatna, in: M. al-Maqdissi et al. (eds), Excavat- estingly also mainly for local Levantine forms that are not attested in Egypt, ing Qatna I (Damascus 2002), 173-174. Also, two stone vessels with hiero- with more examples at Tell Açana/Alalakh and Ras Samra/Ugarit. glyphic inscriptions were found in the royal tomb at Qatna, one vessel nam- 5) The best parallels for the footed pyxis found in the ‘Tomb of the Cis- ing Amenemhat III, the other Queen Ahmes-Nefertari of the early 18th tern’ at Ebla (no. 1913, fig. 57:4) would most probably be found in the Dynasty; for a detailed presentation of the inscriptions and the vessels see: Minoan stone vessel repertoire, e.g. Warren’s P147 and P596 (bowls with A. Ahrens, A Journey’s End – Two Egyptian Stone Vessels with Hiero- horizontal grooves or diagonal fluting), see P. Warren, Minoan Stone Ves- glyphic Inscriptions from the Royal at Tell Misrife/Qatna, Egypt and the sels (Cambridge 1969). However, a local Syrian (i.e. northern Levantine) Levant 16 (2006), 15-36. Furthermore, in the discussion of stone vessels of imitation of a Minoan stone vessel would also seem possible. archaic form (“Jars of Archaic Forms”, §3.1.16, pp. 51-52), a newly dis- 6) In this regard, Sparks also considers the so-called ‘Marriage Vase’ covered fragment of a protodynastic or Early Dynastic Egyptian bowl from from Ras Samra/Ugarit to be an Egyptian import (“Egyptian Stone Vessels Early Dynastic Tell Beydar (in the Syrian Gazirah, having arrived at the with Orientalising Decoration”, pp. 83-84). While this might be the case, site via Byblos and Ebla?) may now be included, see: M. Lebeau/T. de Put- a local Levantine manufacture would seem more plausible. Whereas the ter, Un fragment de vase en pierre égyptien, vraisemblablement d’époque hieroglyphic inscription and the general features of the whole scene are truly protodynastique, découvert à Tell Beydar (Syrie), Baghdader Mitteilungen Egyptian, the frieze of caprid heads at the top is not, thus making a local, 37 (2006), Festschrift Uwe Finkbeiner, 279-294. albeit highly egyptianizing, manufacture very likely. 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 594

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emphasized here. As Sparks correctly notes that “it is often tries to survey and outline regional production techniques that necessary to know both the materials and manufacturing tech- may help to securely trace the origin of a specific stone vessel niques employed before a piece can be correctly identified as under question. However, while this holds true for the majority an import rather than a locally made imitation” (p. 25), one of stone vessels in some regions (“Palestinian Chisel-Made Ves- would wish that in the future such difficult, time-consuming sels,” pp. 200-201), in other regions (“Egyptian Drill-Made/ and costly investigations could be realized more often and sys- Chisel-Made Vessels,” pp.196-198; “Minoan Drill-Made/ tematically. Also part of this typological analysis of local Chisel-Made Vessels,” pp. 198-200; “Syrian Drill-Made/Chisel- stone vessels is the Levantine groundstone industry, often Made Vessels,” p. 200) at least a portion of the stone vessels and neglected and generally treated like the “odd one out” in most their specific production technologies do not always easily fit publications (“Levantine Groundstone Vessels and Installa- into a basic scheme, as many different technologies seem to be tions,” pp. 125-146). Sparks, on the contrary, gives a detailed attested in each of these regions at the same time.10) typological analysis of the vessels and installations found in The next chapter gives a thorough presentation of the dis- Levantine contexts (consisting of bowls, mortars, pot bellows, tribution of stone vessels found in the Levant (Chapter 7, funnels and tuyères, basins, and tables), also listing chrono- “Distribution,” pp. 203-264). Geographically speaking, logical parallels and discussing their assigned functions.7) Sparks arranges the presentation of the material on a site by Following this detailed typological analysis is a chapter on site basis following a strict south–north direction, starting from the materials used for the production of stone vessels and their the south coastal plain and north-eastern Sinai in the southern specific sources in the Levant and Egypt (Chapter 4, “Mate- Levant up to the ‘Amuq Plain, the Biqa‘a Valley and the rials and Sources,” pp. 152-177). In it, Sparks gives a detailed Damascus Basin in the northern Levant. For each site, a com- compilation of all materials used for making stone vessels and plete list of stone vessels found is given along with the basic a geological description and topographical localization of the information on history, dating, stratigraphy and other impor- various sources of stone material found in the regions of the tant details pertaining to the specific site.11) Where applica- eastern Mediterranean. However, as the general picture for the ble, bar diagrams and pie charts are also given, highlighting exact localization and use of these sources in the Levant is far different aspects of stone vessels distribution at various sites. from being complete and fully understood yet, further geo- The last chapter of the volume finally deals with the move- logical and topographical studies – especially in the region of ment of goods, the transferring of ideas and technologies, and the northern Levant – still need to be conducted.8) the evolution and chronology of the distribution networks of Next up is a chapter on stone vessel workplaces (Chapter stone vessels (Chapter 8, “Setting the Industry in Context,” 5, “Stone Vessel Workplaces,” pp. 178-187). While these are pp. 265-275). While the majority of the volume almost exclu- only seldom attested archaeologically – the most prominent sively deals with questions of typology, origin, manufacture being attested at Tell Açana/Alalakh in the Amuq Plain9) and techniques, and the like, this final chapter tries to bridge the at Beth Shean in the northern Jordan Valley –, ethno-archae- gap between the “hard facts” and aspects of the socio-cul- ological parallels may help to understand the different stages tural mechanisms of the second millennium BC “koiné” in of manufacture (and accompanying debris and discards) and the eastern Mediterranean. Just recently, a number of impor- thus also help to identify workshops and workplace remains tant studies have already dealt with the modes of interaction in the archaeological record. based on a number of different object groups.12) As stone ves- The following chapter then consequently deals with the dif- sels are also key artifacts for the study of interconnections13), ferent manufacturing technologies applied to making stone ves- it is not surprising that this topic concludes Sparks’ substan- sels (Chapter 6, “The Tools and Technology Behind Stone Ves- tial volume. However, the wealth of information to be gained sel Manufacture,” pp.188-202). By summarizing the differences by the analysis of these objects is only dealt with on a basic in production technologies on a wider geographical range, Sparks level here. Of course, this is due to the fact that the book is not primarily focused on theoretical approaches to the sub- 7) When discussing Palestinian and Syrian cult furnishings and alleged ject, but provides – as already mentioned above – a thorough Egyptian influences (pp. 142-143), one should also mention the articles of and complete survey of the material for the first time.14) S.J. Wimmer on this topic: Egyptian Temples in Canaan and Sinai, in: S. Israelit-Groll (ed.), Studies in Egyptology Presented to Miriam Lichtheim (Jerusalem 1990), 1065-1106; and Id., (No) more Egyptian Temples in 10) For stone working techniques in general and the use of the hollow Canaan and Sinai, in: I. Shirun-Grumach (ed.), Jerusalem Studies in Egyp- drill in Late Bronze Age Anatolia in particular see also J. Seeher, Bohren tology, ÄAT 40 (Wiesbaden 1998), 87-123. wie die Hethiter: Rekonstruktion von Bohrmaschinen der Spätbronzezeit und 8) For further studies on stone deposits and provenancing see also (albeit Beispiele ihrer Verwendung, Istanbuler Mitteilungen 55 (2005), 17-36, and focusing on a different geograhical area): M. Barbieri/Ch. Lilyquist/G. Id., Sägen wie die Hethiter: Rekonstruktion einer Steinschneidetechnik im Testa, Provenancing Egyptian and Minoan Calcite-Alabaster Artifacts bronzezeitlichen Bauhandwerk, Istanbuler Mitteilungen 57 (2007), 27-43. through 87SR/86SR Isotopic Ratios and Petrography, in: L. Lazzarini (ed.), 11) Just a mere trifle: the sphinx of Amenemhat IV found at Beirut in ASMOSIA VI - Interdisciplinary Studies on Ancient Stone, Proceedings of 1926 (p. 249; §13.2; British Museum 58892) apparently shows evidence the Sixth International Conference of the “Association for the Study of Mar- of reuse respectively reworking during the Ptolemaic period and thus must ble and Other Stones in Antiquity”, Venice, June 15-18 2000, (Padua 2002), have arrived at Beirut at a later time. 403-414; and M. Barbieri/G. Testa/D. Merola/Y. Polychronakis/V. Sim- 12) Among them, to mention just a few, are: M.H. Feldman, Diplomacy itzis, Comparative Strontium-Isotope Analysis and Petrography of Egypt- by Design: Luxury Arts and an ‘International Style’ in the Ancient Near East, ian and Cretan Limestone and Calcite-Alabaster, in: Id., 415-426; and 1400-1200 BCE (Chicago 2006); D. Ben-Tor, Scarabs, Chronology, and recently J.-C. Icart/C. Chanut/V. Matoïan, Le matériel en pierre du Palais Interconnections: Egypt and Palestine in the Second Intermediate Period, royal d’Ougarit: diagnose, nomenclature, provenance et usage, in: V. Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis, Series Archaeologica 27 (=OBO SA 27, Fri- Matoïan (ed.), Ras Shamra – Ougarit (RSO) XVII: Le mobilier du Palais bourg 2007); J. Philipps, Aegyptiaca on the Island of Crete in Their Chrono- Royal d’Ougarit (Paris 2008), 157-190. logical Context: A Critical Review, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Contri- 9) See also Sparks’s earlier article “Stone Vessel Workshops in the Lev- butions to the Chronology of the Eastern Mediterranean 18 (Vienna 2008). ant: Luxury Products of a Cosmopolitan Age”, in: A.J. Shortland (ed.), The 13) See also the selection of articles given in the first footnote. Social Context of Technological Change: Egypt and the Near East, 1650- 14) For more detailed theoretical approaches applied to the subject of 1150 BC, Proceedings of a Conference Held at St. Edmund Hall, Oxford, stone vessels see: A. Bevan, Stone Vessels and Values in the Bronze Age 12 - 14 September 2000 (Oxford 2001), 93-112. Mediterranean (Cambridge 2007). 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 595

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The meticulous work of the catalogue given at the end of The book under review by Stanislao Loffreda offers the the volume (pp. 277-426), listing almost all stone vessels reader a selection of the photographs taken during the exca- found in the Levant so far (comprising a stunning number of vation of Capernaum in Eastern Galilee (Israel). It is the fifth 1,917 entries altogether!)15), is thus to be considered the ‘back- volume in the series of excavation reports of the Fransiscan bone’ of Sparks’ analysis and will serve as a starting point for excavations from 1968 to 2003 at this site.1) Since it was pub- all future investigations on this topic. Within the catalogue, all lished in 2005, already four more volumes did appear, while vessels are arranged according to the presumed cultural origin others are planned.2) To introduce the book under review and of each group, then subdivided following the typologies pre- its value for archaeologists (and in a somewhat lesser degree sented in chapters 2 and 3. Each typological group itself is also historians and New Testament scholars), a brief descrip- ordered alphabetically by site name, and then date, the accom- tion of the history of research at Capernaum and its archae- panying details given according to a standard descriptive order ological and historical findings seems required. (i.e. material, a short description of the vessel, measurements, The site of Capernaum (Tell Hum in Arabic or Kefar registration number, present location, and references). Nahum in Hebrew) is located on the northwestern shore of The work is rounded off with three useful and compre- the Sea of Galilee. It is famous for being one of the princi- hensive concordances allowing easy cross-referencing (list- pal centres of the activity of Jesus in Galilee, as it is men- ing sites, materials, and museum accession numbers), bibli- tioned in early Christian and Jewish writings. While most ographical references, and an index (pp. 427-488). While it modern scholars view the site as the New Testament town was surely out of the scope of this volume to illustrate all of Capernaum, there have been suggestions that New Tes- vessels it deals with, citations within the text make it diffi- tament Capernaum was situated elsewhere. Particularly the cult at times to promptly find the references to the selection site of Khirbet Minyeh, a few kilometres to the southwest, of vessels actually depicted. has been put forward as an alternative. Excavations there, All in all this is an excellent book in which clearly a lot of however, did not reveal any remains earlier than the Islamic time, research and effort has been invested. This large and period. well produced volume of the only just recently re-animated The first modern traveller to visit Capernaum was Edward Palestine Exploration Fund Annual Series therefore is a most Robinson, who, in 1857, discerned the ruins of a synagogue. welcome contribution to the study of an essential part of the In 1884 Capernaum was divided into two parts, as the Fran- “cosmopolitan” material culture of the eastern Mediterranean siscan Fathers purchased the western part of the site and the during the second millennium BC. Greek Orthodox Patriarchate in Jerusalem the eastern. This division resulted in both church authorities having main- German Archaeological Institute, Alexander AHRENS tained their own excavation at the site. The Fransiscans Damascus, December 2008 began excavating, together with the German scholars Kohl and Watzinger, from 1905 till 1921.3) New excavations directed by Virgilio Corbo and Stanislao Loffreda started ** in 1968 and have continued till 2003.4) The part of the * Greek Orthodox Church has only seen five seasons of excavation from 1978 to 1982 under direction of Vassilios LOFFREDA, S. — Documentazione fotografica degli scavi Tzaferis.5) (1968-2003). (Cafarnao V). Franciscan Printing Press, The archaeological remains of Capernaum span at least Jerusalem, 2005. (27,5 cm). ISBN 965-516-069-6. three thousand years, from 2000 BC to 1000 AD. From being All archaeologists are aware of the value of detailed pho- only a small village in the Persian period, the site gradually tographs taken during excavation. Together with drawings, developed during the following centuries. The Roman and measurements and find databases, photographs are an essen- Byzantine period can be seen as the heyday of its develop- tial part of the documentation of an archaeological site. They ment, in which probably around 1500 inhabitants would have can provide an objective and non-selective view of a specific lived here. The village was divided into insulae, i.e. house area, locus or layer that is being excavated on a specific blocks. The houses seem to have had one storey and a court- moment in time. For an interpretation of the excavated site this is of immense value. 1) The first four volumes appeared in the 1970s: Testa, E., Cafarnao IV. I graffiti della casa di S. Pietro (SBF Collectio Maior 19), Jerusalem, 1972; 15) To the extensive list of stone vessels published in the catalogue one Loffreda, S., Cafarnao II. La ceramica (SBF Collectio Maior 19), might also add an interesting (apparently local Levantine?) alabastron from Jerusalem, 1974; Corbo, V., Cafarnao I. Gli edifici della città (SBF Col- Late Bronze Age Tall Bazi, cf. B. Einwang/A. Otto, Tall Bazi – Vorbericht lectio Maior 19), Jerusalem, 1975; Spijkerman, A., Cafarnao III. Catalogo über die Untersuchungen 1994 und 1995, Damaszener Mitteilungen 9 delle monete della città (SBF Collectio Maior 19), Jerusalem, 1975. (1997), 15-45, esp. 22; pl. 13:b and the aforementioned fragment of a stone 2) Callegher, B. Cafarnao IX. Monete dall'area urbana di Cafarnao vessel with the royal names of Sesostris I found at Qatna (Roccati 2002). (1968-2003) (SBF Collectio Maior 47), Jerusalem, 2007; Loffreda, S., Naturally, also missing from the catalogue is the inventory of the (yet Cafarnao VI. Tipologie e contesti stratigrafici della ceramica (1968-2003) unpublished) stone vessels found within the royal tomb and palace of Qatna, (SBF Collectio Maior 48), Jerusalem, 2008; Loffreda, S., Cafarnao VII. which will be published by this reviewer in due course. For a preliminary Documentazione grafica della ceramica (1968-2003) (SBF Collectio Maior presentation of some of the vessels found at Qatna see: A. Ahrens, A Jour- 49), Jerusalem, 2008; Loffreda, S., Cafarnao VIII. Documentazione ney’s End – Two Egyptian Stone Vessels with Hieroglyphic Inscriptions fotografica degli oggetti (1968-2003) (SBF Collectio Maior 50), Jerusalem, from the Royal at Tell Misrife/Qatna, Egypt and the Levant 16 (2006), 15- 2008. 36; Id., Egyptian and Egyptianizing Stone Vessels from the Royal Tomb at 3) Orfali, G., Capharnaüm et suis ruines. D'après les fouilles accom- Tell Misrife/Qatna (Syria): Imports and Local Imitations, in: J.M. Córdoba plies a Tell-Houm par la Custodie franciscaine de Terre Sainte (1905- et al. (eds), Proceedings of the Fifth International Congress on the Archae- 1921), Paris, 1922. ology of the Ancient Near East, Madrid (in press); Id., Die Steingefäße aus 4) For its results, see the literature mentioned in n. 1. der Königsgruft und dem Palast von Qatna: Verteilung, Typenspektrum und 5) Tzaferis, V., Excavations at Capernaum, 1978-1982, Winona Lake, Funktion, in: P. Pfälzner (ed.), Qatna-Studien I (forthcoming). 1989. 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 596

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yard, just as seen in other neighbouring villages.6) However, and is only recently been given interest.8) In this respect, the its most discussed features are a monumental fourth century relation between Capernaum’s history of excavation and its AD synagogue, which may have had an earlier predecessor, historical and archaeological agenda seems quite interesting and a fourth century AD octagonal church, which, according to elaborate upon. A very different critical suggestion: in to its excavators, can be identified as Saint Peter’s house.7) view of this volume’s purpose, a publication in the form of The village, without notable destruction, remained occupied a CD-ROM, DVD or website might perhaps have been more during the Arab period. However, under the Abassid dynasty suitable.9) Such a digital publication simplifies the browsing of Bagdad, Capernaum's prosperity declined sharply. It of the numerous photographs and gives the opportunity to seems that some structures were rebuilt during the 12th and publish and study them in a larger size. 13th century AD, but the village as such was by that time a These observations notwithstanding, the book under pile of ruins. review is of particular value for scholars studying the archae- This volume with a meaningful selection of the pho- ology in the region of Capernaum. While during the last four tographs of the excavation from 1968 to 2003 consists of sev- decades many new excavations have been instigated in the eral chapters. It starts with a preface in which the usage of region of Galilee like Sepphoris, Tiberias, Khirbet Qana and this book is explained. In the next chapter there is a detailed Magdala, final excavation reports of these projects have thus discussion on the history of the excavation, as well as the his- far let scholars waiting. Moreover, scholarly discussions on torical context of the results. Loffreda refers extensively to the socio-cultural, economic, religious and political back- the photographs published further on in the volume in order ground of the region during the Hellenistic to Byzantine to picture both the history of excavation and that of the site period have, due to Galilee's strong historical setting (New itself. There are two indices: one for the rooms of the indi- Testament, Josephus, Rabbinic literature), often overlooked vidual houses and one for the walls found during the exca- the archaeological evidence, even in the recent past. To see vation. These indices need to be used together with the fold- that the archaeology of such an important site (in light of its able plan of the site at the back of the book. With these historical background) as Capernaum is so extensively pub- indices the reader can browse easily through particular pho- lished must therefore be seen as a compliment to its excava- tographs taken from a certain wall, room, house or courtyard. tors. In light of this, the volume under review is a most use- The rest of the volume is taken up by the photographs ful attribution to the field. themselves that are sectioned per area of the excavation. All photographs are accompanied by a brief description of their Katholieke Universiteit Leuven Rick BONNIE setting or date. Furthermore, the description refers to other May 2009 photographs of that same object but which are taken from a different angle. The quality of the photographs are remark- ** ably good and sharp considering the age of photographs taken * during the early-twentieth century excavations at the site, some of which are also published in this volume, and the fact WIGHTMAN, G.J. — Sacred Spaces. Religious architecture that most photographs have been digitized only recently. in the Ancient World. (Ancient Near Eastern Studies Consequently, the photographs give scholars interested in the Supplement Series, 22). Editions Peeters, Leuven, 2006. history of the site, as well as its history of research, a detailed (30 cm, XXXI, 1156). ISBN 90-429-1803-9. / 120,-. view on how the objects were found in their original setting. The merit of this volume comes not from the volume on Without doubt Wightmans book has established a new itself, but from its connection with the other volumes on the dimension in archaeological monographs; its ambit is virtu- excavation of Capernaum. Loffreda’s purpose to publish the ally beyond belief. This study of ancient religious architec- photographs arose out of his conviction that the documenta- ture is equally competent in the history of architecture and tion of photographs of an archaeological site is highly impor- the history of religion. It is world wide in its geographical tant. Photographs record the most important information of coverage and chronologically extends across all ages from an archaeological site for future generations: the context of the earliest evidence of a regard for sacred space (in upper the excavated material. In this respect, this book is a highly Paleolithic times) down to the middle of the 1st millennium valuable addition to the other volumes. AD when various historical developments are construed to It would have been interesting and worthwhile, however, mark the end of the Ancient World. if Loffreda had also addressed the photographs as cultural Lest this appraisal be dismissed as mere “puffing” of gen- products themselves, controlled by various conventions of eral observations, it is necessary to substantiate the authori- representation. The changing relationship between archaeol- tative detail of Wightman’s book. This, in itself, is not easy ogy and photography has long been a neglected field of study in short order. In fact Wightman’s work contains singularly

6) See, in general, Hirschfeld, Y., The Palestinian Dwelling in the 8) To name a few publications: Pezzati, A., Adventures in Photogra- Roman-Byzantine Period, Jerusalem, 1995. phy: Expeditions of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeol- 7) For the discussion on the dating of the synagogue, see Tsafrir, Y., ogy and Anthropology, Philadelphia, 2002; Gerster, G., The Past from “The synagogues at Capernaum and Meroth and the dating of the Galilean Above: Aerial Photographs of Archaeological Sites, Los Angeles, 2005; synagogue”, in Humphrey, J.H. ed. The Roman and Byzantine Near East: Lyons, C.L., Papadopoulos, J.K., Stewart, L.S., Szegedy-Maszak, A., Antiq- Some recent archaeological research (Journal of Roman Archaeology Sup- uity & Photography. Early Views of Ancient Mediterranean Sites, Los plement 14), Ann Arbor, 1995, 152-157. For the discussion Saint Peter’s Angeles, 2005; Jolivet, V., Ruines Italiennes. Photographies des collec- house, see Runesson, A., “Architecture, Conflict and Identity Formation: tions Alinari, Paris, 2006; Mauzy, C.A., Agora Excavations 1931-2006: A Jews and Christians in Capernaum from the 1st to the 6th Century”, in Pictorial History, Princeton, 2006. Zangenberg, J. et al. eds. The Ancient Galilee in Interaction: Religion, 9) For an example of such a CD-ROM, see Duchene, H., Girerd, S., Ethnicity, and Identity (Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Rauh, N.K., Townsend, R.F. and Bednar, J.C., Delos: A Database of Testament 210), Tübingen, 2007, 240-257. Archaeological Images, New York, 1998. 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 597

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little dogmatic speculation of a generalised nature. All his Highland ceremonial centres of the Pre-ceramic Period argument proceeds from individual questions of fact where – Ceremonial centres of the Initial Period (ca 2100- his knowledge is based on acquaintance with an astounding 800 BC) – The U shaped style of the South Central range of archaeological publications. Coast – The Enclosed court style of the Central Coast The contents of the text is ordered as follows. The primary – The North Coast Trabeated Style – Chavin de Huan- division is into five parts: (I) Early Civilisations of Europe tar and the Early Horizon (ca 800-100 BC) – The and Western Asia, pp 1-425; (II) The Graeco-Roman World, Chiripa Culture of Lake Titicaca -The Legacy of pp 426-659; (III) Central and East Asia, pp 660- 786; (IV) Chavin: Moche, Nazca and Tiwanaku. The Americas, pp 787-897; finally to these regional surveys V (20) The Language of Sacred Space. The concept of sacral- there is an analytical summary (V) Themes and Issues, pp ity – Inaugurating sacred space – Primary space: the 898-1022. cult object and holy of holies – Secondary space: the These five parts (“books” they would have once been cella – Basic forms of cellae and holy of holies – rightly designated) are expounded via a total of 21 chapters, Placement of the cult object – Access and Communi- which must be recapitulated in full to do any justice to Wight- cation – Cultic furniture – Tertiary space: mediating man’s scope, viz: movement – Quaternary space: public access and (I) Early Civilisations of Europe and Western Asia. (1) peripheries – Building upwards and downwards – Mesopotamia and Elam, (2) Egypt, (3) Syria-Palestine, Columns and pillars – Principles of organisation (Axi- (4) Anatolia before the Greeks, (5) Arabian Peninsula ality and centricity, Linearity and centricity etc) – Ori- and Persian Gulf, (6) Europe before the Romans, (7) entation and alignment – Scale and proportion. Minoans, Mycenaeans and Early Cypriotes, (8) The Pre- This very long text of over 1000 pages is illustrated by historic West Mediterraneans. nearly 400 text figures (all expertly computer drawn), and (II) The Graeco-Roman World. (9) Greece and the Hellenic over 180 photographic plates (both black and white and World, (10) Etruscan and Roman Italy, (11) The West- colour). Additionally several instruments facilitating the study ern Roman Provinces, (12) Roman East and the Parthian of the text are provided, and these are copious as befits the Frontier. text. (III) Central and East Asia. (13) The Iranian World and Cen- tral Asia, (14) Pre-Gupta India, (15) China from the (1) Glossary of Architectural Terms. This is very necessary Neolithic to the Han Dynasty. in view of the wide ranging subject matter – e.g. a per- (IV) The Americas. (16) Pre-Inca Peru and South America, son familiar with agora may be entirely ignorant of (17) The Pre- classical Period in Meso-America, (18) agnidriya or ashirtu. This glossary contains ca 250 Archaic and Earlier Woodland North America. entries. (V) Themes and Issues. (19) Identity and Meaning, (20) The (2) A Bibliography of References. This is of epic proportions, Language of Sacred Space, (21) Text and Image. and amazingly varied. The list of periodicals cited in abbreviated form contains ca 200 items. The works cited Proceeding beyond these Chapter Headings, Wightman’s are listed under the chapter headings 1-21, and extend table of contents is extremely analytical (as indeed it needs to across more than 70 pages to include more than 2500 be in view of the scope of the book), and each of these chap- items, with basic works distinguished in bold type. ters is subdivided into ca ten or a dozen subsections (some- (3) Finally there is 75 pages of a very detailed and precise times up to 20!). It is impossible to designate these ca 180 index comprising some 2000 entries. subsections in their entirety, but samples must be given to indi- cate the detailed nature of Wightman’s exposition – e.g. Following on an outline of its contents it seems appropri- ate in order better to characterise the book to discuss the pos- I (2) Egypt. Introduction – Pyramid Temples – Valley Tem- sible use to be made of it. The author sees it as an all pur- ples – Middle Kingdom divine ruler Cult Temples – pose endeavour, i.e. both to provide compendious information God cult temples down to the Old Kingdom – Sun for specialist readers, and also to afford a sweeping intro- Sanctuaries – Middle Kingdom god cult temples – New duction for general readers motivated to obtain an introduc- Kingdom Houses of Eternity – The Temples of Amun tion to the field of ancient religious architecture. It is possi- in Eastern Thebes – Ramesside temples – Temples of ble and profitable to discuss the issue in more detail. There the Later Pharaohs, 10th-4th centuries BC – Temples of will not be many occasions where either experts or enthusi- the Graeco-Roman Period (300 BC -300 AD). astic general readers will attempt to digest the contents of this II (12) Roman East and the Parthian Frontier. Greece and the book from cover to cover. Those whose calling has to do with East Mediterranean – Asia Minor – Egypt and Cyre- religious architecture in the ancient world certainly will not naica – Syria – Nabataea – Judea and Samaria – Neo have an expertise in all the branches of the subject dealt with Aramaean and Parthian Mesopotamia. in Wightman’s book. Thus some of the material will be famil- III (14) Pre-Gupta India. Prelude: The Bronze and Iron Ages iar to them, and some quite unfamiliar. Experts are thus likely (ca 3000-500 BC) – Stupas – The Stupa in Early to use the book on two counts: Bhuddism – Origin and meaning of the Stupa – The Classical Bhuddist Stupa – Madha and Uttar Pradesh (1) To check up on subjects with which they are familiar — – Gandhara – Andra Pradesh – Early Bhuddist and the book is very strong n incorporating the most recently Hindu Temples – Chaitya grihas and deva grihas. published information. (2) Perhaps even more significantly experts in one field may IV (16) Pre-Inca Peru and South America. Introduction – Ancient Peruvian Religion – Coastal Ceremonial cen- refer to sections with which they are entirely unfamiliar tres of the Pre-ceramic period (3rd Millennium BC) – in order to improve their comparative background. Here the precise classifications of the subject matter afford 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 598

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great convenience for ready reference. As for the general nature of these transformations during the third millennium, reader, he has in one volume convenient access to an out- especially in Cyprus and the Aegean. In their joint contribu- line of all significant branches of ancient religious archi- tion, Jennifer Webb and David Frankel point out that the tran- tecture. He will begin by looking into that branch which sition from Chalcolithic to Early Bronze in Cyprus is marked most arouses his enthusiasm, and very likely this will by innovations within the domestic sphere and across what incite him in due course to look into other branches. they call the full behavioural spectrum, which they take as evi- dence of a significant influx of people. Part 3 is dedicated to The reviewer has some acquaintance with a number of the techno-cultural innovation and the transfer of ideas, mainly branches of ancient architecture dealt with in Wightman’s during the second half of the second millennium BC. Contri- book, and he would be interested in offering a detailed review butions range from mutual influences on the conceptualiza- of several of the individual parts and chapters of it. However tion of social space detectable in Hittite and Mycenaean pala- odd samples of such review comments would not help in char- tial architecture, through the ways in which different power acterising the nature and quality of this work of astonishing discourses regulated the degree of inclusion or exclusion of scope. Only it is pertinent to note that Wightman writes on an people within Cretan palaces, to the concepts of cross-craft extended variety of subjects always with confidence and clar- interaction and the exchange of artistic vocabulary. Ina Berg’s ity. There is nothing tenuous or tentative in his expression. paper on Aegean Bronze Age seascapes and maritime com- If the foregoing remarks do anything to activate libraries munications provides a critical but refreshing reassessment of and institutes concerned with part of the field covered by common assumptions about summer sailing, currents and Wightman’s book to acquire it for their standard reference wind patterns, limited seafaring technology and navigation section, then these remarks will have served a useful purpose. that are thought to have constrained Mediterranean seafaring and mobility. Part 4 deals with the use and consumption of Avignon, April 2009 G. R. H. WRIGHT imports in local societies. A variety of subjects fall under this heading: the role of Mycenaean pottery in social interactions ** with various parts of the Mediterranean; the appropriation and * socio-political manipulation of elements of Cycladic culture in Early Bronze Age Crete; the role of imports as active car- ANTONIADOU, S., and A. Pace (eds.) — Mediterranean riers of information about external social realities and their crossroads. The Pierides Foundation, Nicosia, 2007. (24 significance for Late Bronze Age Cypriot communities in the cm, 784). ISBN 978-9963-9071-6-8. construction of new identities; the development of diverse, fragmented and heterarchical socio-political structures in these This volume contains the proceedings of the Mediterranean same communities; a reassessment of the so-called Myce- Crossroads conference, which was held in Athens in May naean colonization of Cyprus; the appropriation of imports, 2005. The conference was part of a broader, EU-funded pro- hybridization and identity negotiation between elite and non- ject entitled ‘Crossings: Movements of People and Move- elite groups in the context of Phoenician–Iberian encounters; ment of Cultures: Changes in the Mediterranean from and Greek perceptions of Thracian ethnic identity. Part 5 — Ancient to Modern Times’. The project highlighted Mediter- which focuses on the control and use of Mediterranean ranean archaeology, cultural connectivity, change and diver- resources and technology transfer in historical periods — sity, and the common Mediterranean cultural heritage and its comprises only three papers, all of which are related to the role in the formation of modern European society. This was Middle Ages (access to timber and shipbuilding technology; also the subject of the conference, which focused on move- pottery trade in relation to economic and political conditions; ment and contact within the Mediterranean from the Neolithic and the control over military architecture by the Knights of to modern times. Two broad thematic sessions were held. The St. John). Part 6 comprises papers on Mediterranean heritage. first dealt with recent finds and new theoretical insights that David Lowenthal portrays Mediterranean communities as vic- significantly contribute to the understanding of the movement tims of foreign conquest, colonialism, commerce, stereotyp- of people, ideas and objects throughout the Mediterranean ing and, more recently, tourism, which explains these com- during prehistory and history, while the second addressed munities’ burdensome and alienated feelings and sense of contemporary concerns about the use and abuse of the inferiority regarding their heritage. This emphasis on external Mediterranean past as a source of social identities and as a domination, however, is somewhat one-sided and attributes a common heritage of mankind. passive role to local communities in this process. This per- The volume contains thirty papers, divided over six parts. spective stands in some contrast to the post-colonial view- Part 1 brings together contributions that deal with the utility points expressed elsewhere in this volume, whereby in the of ‘the Mediterranean’ as an analytical tool in archaeological context of ancient colonialism both colonizers and colonized research. Some of the papers approach this theme from an are given active roles. It is also contradicted by Robin entirely theoretical point of view, while in others the theme Skeates’s paper, which shows how over the last centuries pre- surfaces in a more indirect manner, for instance in discussions historic objects and collections in Italy (and elsewhere in the of current conceptualizations of the spread of Neolithic farm- Mediterranean) featured in a series of regional, national and ing. In his contribution on Mediterranean islands and insular- local discourses that relate to the politics of cultural property, ity, Bernard Knapp sketches how the choice between isola- patriotism and identity. Using the megalithic sites in Malta as tion and connectedness determined the social identity of an example, Anthony Pace discusses at length the current rela- prehistoric Mediterranean islanders and how they identified tionships between heritage, identity and heritage’s commer- themselves in material terms, which means that the histories cial value for tourism, and argues how heritage value theory of islanders are essentially histories of movement and con- can help to embrace pluralistic perceptions of heritage and nectivity. Part 2 examines major cultural changes and the include individuals and communities in heritage governance 92837_BIOR_2009/5-6_01 17-03-2010 15:30 Pagina 599

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and management. In his contribution, Christopher Chippin- dale voices a similar point, but does so more poignantly: ‘… we are dealing with heritage not history, so what maters is not ancient facts but rather contemporary conceptions … heritage study is not what happened in the past, the domain of archae- ologists and historians …; [they] have a large role here, but they are not in charge of the heritage — however much they would like to be’ (p. 746). In the rest of his paper, Chippin- dale shows that the European experience of Mediterranean heritage has a long history of reflux or ‘repeated reference back’. This has led to a decontextualization of heritage and the conditioning of the perception of heritage as monuments that are ‘safely dead’, which leads the author to plead for a broader model of heritage and heritage preservation. Although the central theme of the conference was the archaeology and history of the Mediterranean and cultural con- nectivity within the Mediterranean basin, there is a clear emphasis in this book (especially in the papers in Parts 2 – 4) on its eastern part, particularly on Cyprus and the Aegean, with Anatolia, the Levant and Egypt discussed mainly in passing. The west is represented by only one paper on Iberia, and the central Mediterranean by two contributions that deal with Malta; the Apennine peninsula, Sardinia, Sicily and the south- ern Mediterranean littoral are virtually absent. Papers that offer a broader Mediterranean picture are those by Gert-Jan van Wijngaarden (on Mycenaean exports) and Stephen Spiteri (on Hospitaller military architecture), and most of the contribu- tions in Parts 1 and 6. Chronologically, the third and second millennia BC are particularly well represented (especially in Parts 2 – 4). The value of the individual contributions lies in the fact that virtually all of them present new research that is almost without exception informed by very recent theoretical insights (bibliographies up to date until 2006). The conference organizers asked how the post-modern paradigm — with its challenges to absolutist narratives and its emphasis on diver- sity, mobility and fluid social boundaries — is influencing cur- rent research on the Mediterranean past. Most contributions bear testimony to this new paradigm, or give critical evalua- tions of it. The greatest merit of this volume is that it gives a good impression of where Mediterranean archaeology stands at the moment — or rather in which direction it is heading.

VU University Amsterdam, Jan Paul CRIELAARD June 2009