Phoenician Neck-ridge Jugs of the Iron Age: A Reassessment of Their Sequential Stages and Chronology

Abstract

The mushroom-mouthed jugs found in the Phoenician-influenced archaic Western Mediterranean during the Iron Age derive from earlier archetypes which were included in the pottery collection unearthed in Méndez Núñez St., Huelva. These artifacts reflect a chronology for the assemblage that aligns with the Levantine Middle Iron Age. Recent archaeological findings in sites like La Rebanadilla and Utica reinforce this timeline, providing further evidence of the Phoenician pottery’s evolution. This study delves into a meticulous examination of the staged development of Phoenician and Levantine neck-ridge jugs, focusing on stratified contexts excavated in the Levantine corridor. By scrutinizing these contexts, a compelling case emerges for the contemporaneous nature of the assemblage of Huelva and the earliest western Phoenician colonies with the Levantine Iron Age IIA period which is dated in the 10th-9th centuries BCE. This challenges previous assessments that had doubt on the synchronization of these archaeological elements. The significance of this revised interpretation lies in its ability to link disparate archaeological discoveries across geographical regions and establish a more cohesive understanding of the development and diffusion of these specific types of pottery. It underscores the interconnection of cultures and trade routes during this period, shedding light on the nuanced relationships between the Western and Eastern Mediterranean during the Iron Age.