Round stone pyxides from Karkemish and North Syria: Remarks on their distribution and significance

Abstract

Abstract – This paper provides a re-assessment of round stone “cosmetic” pyxides from Karkemish and other North Syrian sites during the Iron II and III periods. Some recently published specimens provide, in fact, new insights for better understanding the manufacture, diffusion and chronology of this class. A corpus of provenanced forty-six specimens, which includes both lids and containers, is discussed according to their context of retrieval, chronology and typological/stylistic features. The majority of the stone pyxides was found at sites such as Karkemish, Chatal Höyük, Tell Tayinat, Tell Afis, while four specimens must have reached Assyria likely as tribute or booty. Patterns may be discerned in relation to the distribution of the stone pyxides in official and household contexts starting in the late 10th-early 9th cent. bce and continuing throughout the 8th and 7th cent. bce and beyond.