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Leila Badre, Emmanuelle Capet et Barbara Vitale, Tell Kazel au Bronze Récent. Études céramiques

Artemis Georgiou
p. 211-215
Référence(s) :

Leila Badre, Emmanuelle Capet et Barbara Vitale, Tell Kazel au Bronze Récent. Études céramiques, Beyrouth, Presses de l’Institut Français du Proche Orient, Bibliothèque Archéologique et Historique, Tome 211, 2018. [250 pages.] ISBN 978‑2‑35159‑740‑8

Texte intégral

1Tell Kazel, situated on the coastal region of the Akkar valley in northern Syria, is justifiably considered a key Bronze Age settlement within the crossroads linking northern and southern Levant, and a threshold granting access to the seaborne trade-routes of the Mediterranean Sea from the strategic land-routes in northern Mesopotamia. The region played a pivotal role in the interplay between the era’s superpowers in their attempts to control the commercial routes and maintain political power within and beyond their domains.

2The wealth and cosmopolitan character of Tell Kazel, which has been identified as Sumur of the Amarna records, is reflected in the site’s archaeological record, brought to light thanks to the annual expeditions by the American University of Beirut Museum, directed by L. Badre and her associates, between the years 1985-2000. The volume under review represents the conclusive publication of the Late Bronze Age ceramic remains. It follows a number of preliminary accounts that reported on the stratigraphic sequence, architectural remains and the ceramic and other finds, spanning the settlement’s entire chronological occupation (e.g. Badre et al. 1990; 1994; Badre and Gubel 1999-2000; Capet 2003). In addition, the reviewed volume includes extensive reference to the Bronze Age material from the site of Arqa, excavated by J.‑P. Thalmann. As is stated by the authors, the material from the two settlements underlines the cultural and ceramic unity of the Akkar plain, with local variants for each site.

3The book is divided into two main parts, the first presenting a general overview of the Bronze Age ceramic remains from Tell Kazel (and Arqa) and the second analysing in detail the imported Late Cypriot wares from the settlements’ Areas II and IV. For the most part, it is presented in French with the exception of the sections discussing the Mycenaean and Cypriot pottery, which are written in English. The volume’s table of contents is also provided in Arabic.

4The publication begins with a foreword that concisely outlines the general aims of the volume and the framework of activities that culminated in the present book. In an introductory chapter, the political, economic, social and cultural background is elucidated, thus providing an indispensable framework to contextualise the ceramic data presented in the following chapters. In this historical outline, it becomes evident that the region of the northern Levant, particularly the Akkar valley, withstood significant periods of unremitting unrest, acting as a buffer-zone between emergent political and economic interests. During the course of the Late Bronze Age, the area turned from being part of the northern territory of the Egyptian empire, to falling under the sphere of influence of the Mittani, before finally acting as the southernmost limit of the Hittite Empire. Based on the present textual and archaeological data, the authors postulate that the remains excavated at Tell Kazel could represent the seat of the kings of Amurru during the Hittite rule. In addition to presenting the general context, this chapter effectively addresses the way the historical background affected material culture. The discussion largely benefits from consulting the map in page 161, where key sites mentioned in this section are indicated.

5The following part presents a useful review of the fieldwork and scholarly research at Tell Kazel and the wider region of the Homs Gap, outlining the survey and excavation projects undertaken in this area. The authors illustrate the significance of this study, considering that, in the absence of the publication of the Late Bronze Age material from the key site of Kadesh, and in anticipation of the publication of the surveys of the Akkar, we essentially depend on the published material from Arqa and Tell Kazel to gain substantial insights into this region. The section also includes elemental stratigraphic and architectural observations on the excavated levels from both Tell Kazel and Arqa, with practical remarks on the transformations in the material culture associated with each level. Trenches excavated in various locations within the settlement of Tell Kazel brought to light secular architecture, an important structure of possible administrative function, and a temple. Several phases of occupation were identified, spanning the most part of the Late Bronze Age, until the settlement’s violent destruction in Phase K1, that corresponds to the early 12th century B.C. The data presented in Table 2 are particularly informative: in addition to providing a comprehensive outline of the site’s stratigraphic phasing, this chart also correlates the archaeological levels of Tell Kazel with the phasing of the Akkar and Arqa. It also provides the corresponding relevant and absolute chronology for each stratum and additionally addresses the equivalent chronology in Cypriot and Aegean terms. The readers will find themselves consulting this chart throughout the ceramic analyses illustrated in the rest of the volume.

6The chapter discussing the Late Bronze Age pottery from Tell Kazel (and Arqa) begins with an extensive analysis of the fabrics, manufacture techniques and firing of the local wares, while providing a general discussion on the decorative techniques employed. As is clearly stated, the material presented in this volume does not correspond to the entirety of the material unearthed at Tell Kazel; rather, a selection was made on the basis of the contexts, of the frequency of types and their variations, of chronological and regional interests and of rarer, more intricate examples. The authors take on the arduous task of classifying this material according to shape (e.g. plates, bowls, chalices, kraters, jars, cooking pots, etc.), presenting in detail the typology and variants, decorative patterns and surface treatment for each type, the overall popularity of each form in relation to the different excavation areas and stratigraphic levels, and presenting comparable examples from other sites of northern Levant.

7Amongst the material presented in the book under review stand out the anthropomorphic vessels, as well as the elaborate braziers and stands, a few of which bear pictorial depictions in bichrome decoration. These have been associated with religious and cultic practices, and it is thus not surprising that, in their majority, they derive from the structure identified as a temple. The frequency of miniature vases, that are either wheelmade or handmade, must also have had a symbolic, rather than a practical, function. Of particular interest is the presentation of the typology of the pithoi, particularly the vessels that were either imported from Cyprus or draw inspiration from the Cypriot prototypes. Unlike the case in several settlements of Cyprus, where masses of pithoi were found accumulated inside specialised storage units (e.g. the ‘Pithos Hall’ of Building X at Kalavasos-Ayios Dhimitrios, “Pithos Magazine” of Building II at Alassa, etc.), evidently destined to be redistributed by a central authority, at the domestic contexts of Tell Kazel we find more or less equal numbers of pithoi (two or three) per house.

8The site has also yielded a large number of transport amphorae, known in modern literature by the term ‘Canaanite jars’. A few of these vessels bear inscribed marks on their handles, another indication of possible Cypriot connections, considering that the incision of individual marks on ceramic vessels (often associated with the indigenous Cypro-Minoan script) is a common practice on the island. In presenting these vessels, the authors have opted for the term pseudo-‘Canaanite jar’, in the absence of the characteristic carinated form that typified this ceramic class during the most part of the Late Bronze Age. However, the vessels illustrated in this volume clearly follow the second broad category of ‘Canaanite jars’, known as the ‘bellied’ type (Type 22), which circulated alongside the stereotypical carinated form, and even survived into the critical years of the 12th century B.C. (based on the studies of Peddrazzi 2016 and Killebrew 2007). The term ‘pseudo’ only adds to the already complicated nomenclature associated with this ceramic class.

9The site revealed a large number of complete and restorable vessels of the intriguing Handmade Burnished ware, providing significant input to the discussions pertaining to the ware’s appearance and its spread across central and eastern Mediterranean. Vessels that were imported from the west, namely the Grey Lustrous Wheelmade ware, the Cypriot pottery and the Mycenaean pottery are also briefly presented in this chapter. A more systematic presentation of the material imported from Cyprus is provided as a separate chapter in this volume by Barbara Vitale. The Mycenaean pottery from Tell Kazel was previously published more extensively in a series of articles by R. Jung, and in the context of this publication, it is evaluated in terms of the scale of the western imports, the vessels’ typology, chronology and special functions (i.e. ritual vessels). The discussion also incorporates a brief presentation of the Mycenaean material from Tell Tweini. Jung’s study is critical in discussing the local production of pottery inspired by Aegean prototypes, and presenting the uncharacteristically large percentage of undecorated wares. His studies draw from the integration of interdisciplinary techniques, such as Neutron Activation Analysis and petrography, to designate production areas.

10The chapter on the general discussion of the Late Bronze Age pottery from Tell Kazel concludes with a particularly useful wrap‑up section, considering the general development of the vessels’ typology and the characteristics of the pottery according to the settlement’s stratigraphic phases. The conclusions also address the issue of identifying different regional cultural zones on the basis of ceramic production, imports, and the incorporation of external influences. A comprehensive annex attempts to provide typo-chronological associations between the Late Bronze Age material of Kazel and synchronous sites in the Levant. The most substantial part of this chapter is the catalogue, enlisting all entries discussed in the text, with contextual data and detailed fabric analyses, and the relevant illustrations.

11An invaluable asset of the publication under review is the meticulous analysis of the Cypriot wares from Areas II and IV of the settlement at Tell Kazel, presented in a separate chapter by Barbara Vitale. The large numbers and variation of the Cypriot imports unearthed at the site, which represent 75% of the imported wares, attest to the intimate connections maintained between the two centres. In addition to the complete or restorable vessels presented in the previous chapter, the corpus of the Cypriot wares disseminated in this volume also incorporates the majority of the Cypriot sherds found at the site. These are presented in an expanded catalogue, which includes contextual information for each entry, as well as detailed descriptions of fabric and decoration. The classification of the material is presented according to the different wares, and discussions include general observations of the fabric, typology, and style. The analyses also bring in very useful quantitative estimations on each ware (including minimum numbers) and provide parallels to the occurrence of these wares at other sites in the Syro-Palestinian coast and further inland.

12White Slip ware vessels comprise the largest group of the Cypriot imports. This sizeable corpus is subdivided into smaller classes, based on the contributor’s meticulous study of the decorative scheme. A minor factual error that should be noted is the contributor’s designation of the White Slip IIA variant as a transitional ware: this is, in fact, a local variation of southwestern Cyprus, that is roughly synchronous to the island-wide White Slip II Normal production. The presence of numerous examples of the late variety of the White Slip sequence at Tell Kazel is noteworthy, as it illustrates the persistence of trading activities of White Slip pottery during the ware’s final, degrading stages. The author also discusses the sizeable numbers of Base Ring and White Shaved wares, providing significant information on the possible local production that draws inspiration from these two Cypriot types. The corpus of White Painted Handmade ware vessels, which were produced during the Middle and very early into the Late Bronze Age, suggests that commercial contacts between Tell Kazel and Cyprus were initiated from an early stage, and, as the author postulates, this may be indicative of earlier occupation levels at the site, that are yet to be exposed. Evidently, Cypriot vessels were imported at the site of Tell Kazel both as ceramic containers for their contents (this is especially the case for the juglets in Base Ring and White Shaved ware), but also as ceramic vessels per se, valued for their fine fabric, intricate decoration, and exotic connotations. The discussion of the Cypriot imports at Tell Kazel is appreciated for the methodological depiction of the different wares represented in the site’s Late Bronze Age contexts, and the meaningful patterns that can be drawn. This section would have largely benefited from consulting up‑to‑date studies of the Cypriot ceramics and the publication of key excavation projects from the Late Cypriot milieu, seeing as references to the material of Enkomi (Dikaios’ excavations), Kition, Hala Sultan Tekke, Palaepaphos, and many others are conspicuously lacking.

13The volume is, in general, beautifully illustrated, each specimen featuring a drawing and/or photograph. The drawings are exceptional to the adept eye of a ceramics’ specialist. They consistently follow the conventions of portraying the vessels’ shape and decoration, including the challenge of depicting misfired or deformed shapes, wheelmarks, bichromity and other features. The book also includes several coloured images that are quintessential in perceiving bichrome decoration and other details. A significant shortcoming in terms of the depiction of the finds is that several of the photographs are out of focus (e.g. 122‑123, 234) or would have benefited from digital processing, in terms removing background, shading, etc. (e.g. 252, 258, 286, 342 and others). However, the wealth of the illustrations is indispensable in providing a highly interactive presentation of the ceramic remains.

14As the authors state at the opening of the volume, the aim of this publication is, on the one hand, to deliver a corpus of the Late Bronze Age ceramic remains from the Akkar plain and on the other to provide a reference point for future research. In attaining both of these tasks, and in bringing to the fore Tell Kazel’s external connections through the methodological study of the imported ceramics from Cyprus, the Greek mainland and beyond, the contributors are to be commended on delivering a well-illustrated and comprehensive publication of these significant archaeological contexts.

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Bibliographie

Badre (L.), Gubel (E.), 1999-2000, “Tell Kazel Syria. Excavations of the AUB Museum, 1993-1998. Third Preliminary Report”, Berytus 44, p. 123‑203.

Badre (L.), Gubel (E.), Capet (E.), Panayot (N.), 1994, “Tell Kazel (Syrie). Rapport préliminaire sur les 4e‑8e campagnes de fouilles (1988-1992)”, Syria 61, p. 259‑359.

Badre (L.), Gubel (E.), Maqdissi (M.), Sader (H.), Caubet (A.), Yon (M.), 1990, “Tell Kazel excavation of the AUB Museum 1985-1987”, Berytus 38, p. 9‑124.

Capet (E.), 2003, “Tell Kazel (Syrie). Rapport préliminaire sur les 9e‑17e campagnes de fouilles (1993-2001) du musée de L’Université américaine de Beyrouth. Chantier II”, Berytus 47, p. 63‑121.

Killebrew (A.), 2007, “The Canaanite storage jar revisited”, in S. White Crawford, A. Ben- Tor, J.P. Dessel, W.G. Dever, A. Mazar, J. Aviram (eds.), “Up to the Gates of Ekron”. Essays on the Archaeology and History of the Eastern Mediterranean in Honour of Seymour Gitin, Jerusalem, p. 166‑188.

Pedrazzi (T.), 2016, “Canaanite jars and the maritime trade network in the northern Levant during the transition from the Late Bronze to the Early Iron Age”, in S. Demesticha, A.B. Knapp (eds.), Maritime Transport Containers in the Bronze Age - Iron Age Aegean and eastern Mediterranean, Uppsala, p. 57‑77.

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Artemis Georgiou, « Leila Badre, Emmanuelle Capet et Barbara Vitale, Tell Kazel au Bronze Récent. Études céramiques »Cahiers du Centre d’Études Chypriotes, 48 | 2018, 211-215.

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Artemis Georgiou, « Leila Badre, Emmanuelle Capet et Barbara Vitale, Tell Kazel au Bronze Récent. Études céramiques »Cahiers du Centre d’Études Chypriotes [En ligne], 48 | 2018, mis en ligne le 01 mai 2022, consulté le 17 juin 2025. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/cchyp/389 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/cchyp.389

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Artemis Georgiou

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