Table Of ContentSea Peoples of the Northern Levant?
HARVARD SEMITIC MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS
Lawrence E. Stager, General Editor
Michael D. Coogan, Director of Publications
STUDIES IN
THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY OF THE LEVANT
Edited by
Lawrence E. Stager
1. The Archaeology of Jordan and Beyond: Essays in Honor of James A. Sauer,
edited by Lawrence E. Stager, Joseph A. Greene, and Michael D. Coogan
2. The House of the Father as Fact and Symbol: Patrimonialism in Ugarit and the Ancient Near East,
by J. David Schloen
3. Canaanites, Chronologies, and Connections: The Relationship of Middle Bronze Age //A Canaan to
Middle Kingdom Egypt, by Susan L. Cohen
4. "Walled Up to Heaven": The Evolution ofMiddle Bronze Age Fortification Strategies in the Levant,
by Aaron A. Burke
5. The Material Culture of the Northern Sea Peoples in Israel, by Ephraim Stem
6. Excavations at the Early Bronze IV Sites of Jebel Qa'aqir and Be'er Resisim, by William G. Dever
7. Sea Peoples of the Northern Levant? Aegean-Style Pottery from Early Iron Age Tell Tayinat
by Brian Janeway
SEA PEOPLES OF THE
NORTHERN LEVANT?
AEGEAN-STYLE POTTERY
FROM EARLY IRON AGE TELL TAYINAT
by
Brian Janeway
Winona Lake, Indiana
EISENBRAUNS
2017
Sea Peoples of the Northern Levant?
Aegean-Style Pottery from Early Iron Age Tell Tayinat
by
Brian Janeway
© 2017 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College
All rights reserved
Printed in the United States of America
www.eisenbrauns.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Janeway, Brian, author.
Title: Sea Peoples of the Northern Levant?: Aegean-Style Pottery from Early Iron Age Tell
Tayinat / by Brian Janeway.
Description: Winona Lake, Indiana: Eisenbrauns, 2015. I Series: Studies in the archaeology
and history of the Levant ; 7 I Series: Harvard Semitic Museum publications I Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2014046253 (print) I LCCN 2015000167 (ebook) I ISBN 9781575069500
(hardback: alk. paper) I ISBN 9781575069517 (pdf)
Subjects: LCSH: Tayinat Site (Turkey) I Turkey-Antiquities. I Pottery-Turkey-Tayinat Site. I
Philistines. I Sea Peoples-Turkey-History. I Excavations (Archaeology)-Turkey.
Classification: LCC DS156.T39 J36 2015 (print) I LCC DS156.T39 (ebook) I DDC
939 .4/31-dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2014046253
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard
for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI 239.48-1984.@™
Table of Contents
Foreword (Timothy P. Harrison) ....................................................................................................................................... .ix
Acknowledgments .............................................................................................................................................................. xi
List of Figures ................................................................................................................................................................. xiii
List of Tables .................................................................................................................................................................... xiv
Plates ................................................................................................................................................................................. xv
Abbreviations ................................................................................................................................................................... xvi
1. The Late Helladic IIIC Tradition in the East Mediterranean .......................................................................................... 1
1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 1
1.2 History of Late Helladic IIIC Scholarship ............................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Ongoing Research in the Region ........................................................................................................................... 1O
1.4 Summary Observations ......................................................................................................................................... 11
2. Survey of Early Iron Age Sites Relating to Tell Tayinat... ............................................................................................ 13
2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.2 Anatolia/Cilicia ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
2.2. l Kinet Hoytik .................................................................................................................................................. 13
2.2.2 Dagllbaz Hoytik ............................................................................................................................................ 15
2.2.3 Tarsus ............................................................................................................................................................ 16
2.2.4 Kilise Tepe .................................................................................................................................................... 17
2.2.5 Tille Hoytik ................................................................................................................................................... 18
2.2.6 Malatya ......................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.2.7 Bademgedigi Tepe ........................................................................................................................................ 19
2.2.8 Miletus .......................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.3 Inland Syria ........................................................................................................................................................... 20
2.3.1 Tell Afis ......................................................................................................................................................... 20
2.3.2 Hama ............................................................................................................................................................. 21
2.3.3 Ain Dara. ....................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.3.4 Tell 'Acharneh ............................................................................................................................................... 21
2.3.5 Tell Qarqur .................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.4 Coastal Syria and Phoenicia .................................................................................................................................. 22
2.4.1 Ras lbn Hani and Ras el-Bassit .................................................................................................................... 22
2.4.2 Ras Shamra (ancient Ugarit) ......................................................................................................................... 22
2.4.3 Tell Tweini .................................................................................................................................................... 23
2.4.4 Tell Kazel ...................................................................................................................................................... 23
2.4.5 Sarepta .......................................................................................................................................................... 24
2.4.6 Tyre ............................................................................................................................................................... 25
2.4.7 Tel Dor .......................................................................................................................................................... 25
2.5 Philistia .................................................................................................................................................................. 26
2.5.1 Tel Miqne (ancient Ekron) ............................................................................................................................ 26
2.5.2 Tel Ashdod .................................................................................................................................................... 26
2.5.3 Tel Ashkelon ................................................................................................................................................. 27
2.5.4 Tell es-Safi (ancient Gath) ............................................................................................................................ 28
2.5.5 Tell Qasile ..................................................................................................................................................... 28
2.6 Cyprus .................................................................................................................................................................... 28
2.6.1 Enkomi and Kition ........................................................................................................................................ 29
2.7 Summary Observations ......................................................................................................................................... 30
3. Archaeology of the Early Iron Age in the Amuq Valley and Vicinity ......................................................................... 31
3.1 Amuq Valley Surveys and Settlement Patterns ..................................................................................................... 31
3.1.1 Braidwood Survey ........................................................................................................................................ 31
3.1.2 Amuq Valley Regional Project (AVRP) ....................................................................................................... 32
3.1.3 Sabuniye ....................................................................................................................................................... 34
3.1.4 Tell Gindaris ·················································································································································34
3.2 The Syrian-Hittite Expedition and Renewed Excavations .................................................................................... 35
3.2.1 Tell Judaidah ................................................................................................................................................. 35
3.2.2 Chatal Hoytik ................................................................................................................................................ 36
V
vi Sea Peoples of the Northern Levant?
3.2.3 The Syrian-Hittite Expedition to Tell Tayinat (1935-38) ............................................................................. 38
3.2.4 The Tayinat Archaeological Project (2004-present) ................................................................................... .41
3.2.5 Tell Atchana (ancient Alalakh) ..................................................................................................................... 42
3.3 Summary Observations ......................................................................................................................................... 43
4. The Tell Tayinat LH IIIC Assemblage .......................................................................................................................... 45
4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 45
4.1.1 The Tayinat Assemblage ............................................................................................................................... 45
4.1.2 Field 1 Excavations ....................................................................................................................................... 46
4.1.2.1 Architecture and Stratigraphy ........................................................................................................... 46
4.1.2.2 Ceramic Assemblage ........................................................................................................................ 49
4.1.3 Order of Presentation .................................................................................................................................... 49
4.2 Aegean-Style Bowls .............................................................................................................................................. 50
4.2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 50
4.2.1.1 Deep Bowl (FS 284/285) .................................................................................................................. 51
4.2.1.1.1 Deep Bowl Morphology .................................................................................................... 52
4.2.1.1.2 Deep Bowl Decoration ...................................................................................................... 54
Double Antithetical Streamer. ........................................................................................... 54
Stacked Zigzag .................................................................................................................. 55
Wavy Line Style ................................................................................................................ 56
Linear/monochrome .......................................................................................................... 57
4.2.1.1.3 Summary Observations ..................................................................................................... 58
4.2.1.2 Shallow Angular Bowl (FS 295) ...................................................................................................... 59
4.2.1.3 One-Handled Conical Bowl (FS 242) .............................................................................................. 60
4.2.2 Summary Observations ................................................................................................................................. 60
4.3 Aegean-Style Kraters ............................................................................................................................................. 61
4.3 .1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 61
4.3.2 Aegean Krater Shapes ................................................................................................................................... 62
4.3.3 Aegean Krater Assemblages ......................................................................................................................... 62
4.3.4 Kraters in the Amuq Valley .......................................................................................................................... 64
4.3.5 Tell Tayinat Krater Assemblage .................................................................................................................... 65
4.3.5.1 Selection Strategy ............................................................................................................................. 65
4.3.5.2 Rim Typology and Morphology ....................................................................................................... 66
KR-1 T-Shaped ................................................................................................................................. 66
KR-2a Square; KR-2b Rectangular .................................................................................................. 68
KR-3 Triangular ............................................................................................................................... 69
KR-4 Oval ........................................................................................................................................ 70
KR-5 Everted ..................................................................................................................................... 71
KR-6 Inverted/Exterior Thickened ................................................................................................... 72
KR-7 Rounded .................................................................................................................................. 72
4.3.5.3 Miscellaneous Krater Shapes .................................................................................. ·. ........................ 73
4.3.5.4 Carinated Fragments ......................................................................................................................... 74
4.3.5.5 Summary Observations .................................................................................................................... 74
4.3.5.6 Decoration ........................................................................................................................................ 75
4.3.5.6.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 75
4.3.5.6.2 Levantine Panel Style ........................................................................................................ 77
4.3.5.6.3 Regional Parallels to the Levantine Panel Style ................................................................ 77
4.3.5.7 Krater Decoration at Tell Tayinat .............................................................................. :. ..................... 78
4.3.5.7.1 Frieze-Style Decoration ..................................................................................................... 78
Stacked Zigzag (some OMDS) ......................................................................................... 78
Solid-Painted Triangles ..................................................................................................... 79
Cross-Hatched Triangles ................................................................................................... 80
Wavy Line Style ................................................................................................................ 80
Stemless Spiral .................................................................................................................. 81
Checkerboard .................................................................................................................... 82
Table of Contents vii
4.3.5.7.2 Miscellaneous Individual Motifs and Surface Treatments ................................................ 82
Plain, Bands and Monochrome Decoration ...................................................................... 82
Rosette (FM 17) and Triglyph (FM 75) ............................................................................ 83
Sea Anemone (FM 27) ...................................................................................................... 84
Double Axe (FM 35) ......................................................................................................... 84
4.3.5.7.3 Pictorial Decoration ........................................................................................................... 85
Bird Pictorial (TAP) .......................................................................................................................... 85
Bird Pictorial (Syrian-Hittite Expedition) ......................................................................... 86
Fish Pictorial (TAP) .......................................................................................................... 86
Anthropomorphic Pictorial (TAP) ..................................................................................... 87
4.3.6 Summary Observations ................................................................................................................................. 91
4.4 Aegean-Style Amphorae and Jars .......................................................................................................................... 92
4.4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 92
4.4.2 Morphology of the Tayinat Assemblage ....................................................................................................... 93
4.4.2.1 Rim Typology ................................................................................................................................... 94
AJ-1 Oval. ......................................................................................................................................... 94
AJ-2 Triangular ................................................................................................................................. 96
AJ-3 Profiled ..................................................................................................................................... 97
AJ-4 Hollow ..................................................................................................................................... 97
AJ-5 Rounded; AJ-6 Simple; AJ-7 Flat.. .......................................................................................... 98
4.4.2.2 Aspects of Amphorae and Jar Forms ................................................................................................ 98
4.4.3 Decoration ................................................................................................................................................... 100
4.4.3.1 Frieze-Style Decoration .................................................................................................................. 100
Cross-Hatched Triangles ................................................................................................................ 101
Herringbone .................................................................................................................................... 101
Spiraliform Decoration ................................................................................................................... 103
4.4.3.2 Individual Motifs ............................................................................................................................ 104
Necklace ......................................................................................................................................... 104
Triglyph/Panel Decoration ............................................................................................................. 105
Rim Hatching .................................................................................................................................. 105
Handle Decoration .......................................................................................................................... 105
Long Antithetical Tails ................................................................................................................... 105
4.4.4 Summary Observations ............................................................................................................................... 106
4.5 Miscellaneous Forms and Sherds ........................................................................................................................ 107
4.5.1 lntroduction ................................................................................................................................................. 107
4.5.1.1 Trefoil-mouthjug ............................................................................................................................ 107
4.5 .1.2 Feeding/Spouted Bottle .................................................................................................................. 108
4.5.1.3 Pilgrim Flask .................................................................................................................................. 109
4.5.1.4 Pot-stand ......................................................................................................................................... 109
4.5.1.5 Mug/Goblet .................................................................................................................................... 110
4.5.1.6 Aegean-style Cooking Pot .............................................................................................................. 11 l
4.5.1.7 Unidentified Body Sherds ............................................................................................................... 112
4.5.2 Summary Observations ............................................................................................................................... 113
5. Sea Peoples of the Northern Levant? Aegean-Style Pottery from Early Iron Age Tell Tayinat... .............................. 115
5 .1 A Mercantile Phenomenon? ................................................................................................................................ 118
5 .2 The Result of Cypriot and/or Cilicia-Linked Migration ..................................................................................... 119
5.3 How Much LH IIIC is in the Tayinat Assemblage? ............................................................................................ 120
5.4 Historical and Archaeological Synthesis ............................................................................................................. 121
Tell Tayinat Pottery Plates (l-24) .................................................................................................................................... 125
Bibliography ................................................................................................................................................................... 175
Foreword
Few ceramic traditions have generated more attention, range and wealth of the material culture that has been
and contentious debate, than the Aegeanizing Late recovered in the course of excavations.
Helladic me (or, alternatively, Mycenaean me) The most extensive Early Iron Age sequence exca
pottery found in ever increasing quantities at Early Iron vated thus far at Tayinat has been in Field 1 (see Fig.
Age sites throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. Yet, 6). Preliminary analysis suggests this area to have
surprisingly little is known about its occurrence in the been largely an industrial zone devoted to textile pro
northern reaches of the Levant, despite the strategic duction. The earliest Iron Age level (Field Phase 6c)
role this region has played historically as a cultural rested directly on top of late third millennium depos
bellwether. This important lacuna has not prevented a its (Amuq J, or EB IVB), while the terminal phases
steady procession of scholars from speculating about in the Early Iron Age sequence, dated tentatively to
its developmental history in the region. These efforts the eleventh century BCE, were severely disrupted
notwithstanding, there has thus been an acute need for by deeply cut foundation trenches for the walls of
a thorough publication of a well-stratified assemblage Building II, assigned by the Syrian-Hittite Expedition
from one of the principal settlements in the northern to their Second Building Period (ca. 825-720 BCE;
Levant. This volume seeks to address that void through the TAP investigations date this phase slightly earlier
a presentation of a Late Helladic me (hereafter LH in the ninth century BCE), leaving a near two-century
mC) assemblage from the Early Iron Age levels at Tell gap in the latter part of the sequence. The preserved
Tayinat, which has emerged as the likely capital of a remains in Field 1 nevertheless indicate a tightly strati
powerful regional kingdom during this period. fied sequence spanning the mid-to late-twelfth through
The Tayinat Archaeological Project (TAP) was eleventh centuries BCE (specifically Field Phases 6
conceived within the framework of the Amuq Valley through 3), and thus provide a reasonably representa
Regional Project (AVRP), which has been systemati tive profile of the material cultural sequence for this
cally documenting the archaeology of the Amuq Plain period.
in southeastern Turkey since 1995. Within this broader Excavations in other fields on the citadel mound in
regional research framework, TAP was initiated as a time will likely produce more substantial exposures
long-term field project designed to fully and system of the Early Iron Age settlement at Tayinat, including
atically document the archaeological record preserved the possibility of earlier and later phases in the Iron I
at Tayinat, identified by the University of Chicago's sequence. The Field 1 assemblage nevertheless pro
Syrian-Hittite Expedition investigations in the 1930s vides an important opportunity to begin the effort to
as one of the principal Bronze and Iron Age settlements construct a material cultural profile of the Early Iron
in the plain, situated strategically at the confluence of Age community that made its home at Tayinat. As is
several valley systems that converge at the northern now well known, the composition of the Field 1 cul
bend of the Orontes River. Preliminary field seasons in tural assemblage includes the presence of substantial
1999, 2001 and 2002 were devoted to topographic and quantities ofLH me pottery, among other distinctively
surface surveys of the site, followed by a brief explor Aegean cultural markers. The stylistic hallmarks of
atory excavation season in 2004. These investigations LH me pottery are superficially easy to discern, and
were expanded to full-scale excavations in 2005, and the temptation to draw sweeping conclusions about
they have continued on an annual basis since. the broader cultural implications of their spatial dis
The ongoing TAP excavations have produced mount tribution all too predictable. However, as Janeway's
ing evidence of a substantial Early Iron Age settle painstaking stylistic and morphological analyses dem
ment, despite persistent characterizations by some that onstrate, the production, distribution and consumption
Tayinat was little more than a small agricultural village of this distinctive potting tradition was exceedingly
during this period. As Janeway details (see sections complex, involving the interplay of both nonlocal and
3.2.3 and 3.2.4), virtually every excavated field has local indigenous stylistic traditions. His study also
produced stratified Early Iron Age remains. When com reveals the remarkable insights and rewards a judicious
bined with the results of the Syrian-Hittite Expedition's stylistic approach can contribute to our understanding
investigations, they collectively project a minimum of the broader historical significance of this intrusive
spatial extent to the settlement of twelve hectares, and cultural marker.
as much as twenty hectares, or the entire area of the Janeway's comparative analysis has also situated
citadel mound, rendering Tayinat one of the largest the Tayinat LH IIIC assemblage chronologically, dat
Early Iron Age sites in the Eastern Mediterranean. This ing it to the latter part of the twelfth and the elev
considerable size is matched by the diverse artefactual enth centuries BCE. This relative dating has now been
ix
