An Egyptian calcite-alabaster drop jar at the Cypriot site of Pyla-Kokkinokremos

Abstract

The Late Bronze Age presents a peak in the cultural interactions between the different empires of the ancient Near East. Bulk goods and small quantities of luxury products were exchanged between the kings and the local elite over long distances. During the 2019 excavation campaign, such a luxury item was discovered at the site of Pyla-Kokkinokremos in Cyprus: an Egyptian calcite-alabaster drop jar incised with geometric and floral decorations. In the present publication, this exceptional find is contextualized by examining other decorated drop jars from the Near East.