Object type
olpe
Fabric
common Iberian pottery
Culture/period
Protohistory and Iberian world
Materials
pottery
Technique
wheel-thrown
Mint
Production date
-500 / -200
Current location
Exposició permanent
Archaeological site
Pla de les Tenalles
Township
Granyanella (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Lleida, La Segarra)
Dimensions
170 x 50 mm
Description
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Jug with a vertical handle raised above the rim, concave base, cylindrical body, almost non-existent neck and small mouth with a vertical everted rim. This jug corresponds to a formal shape common in Mediterranean cultures (Greek and Punic), although the characteristics of the fabric of this item makes a precise attribution difficult. Jugs of this type occur also in the western Greek colonies of Emporion and Rhode and we should not rule out the possibility of locally produced imitations.
These small narrow-mouthed jugs are similar to the “olpe” type" and would have been used as a container of thick fluids, primarily oil and, therefore, mostly associated with contexts of hygiene. However, this jug with a raised handle has a mouth with a larger diameter than the "olpe"- type jugs and for this reason it might have been suitable for different uses, such as pitcher tableware for different liquids (e.g., wine or sauces).
Jugs of this type display a rather sporadic presence in the archaeological record of the Iberian area but are more common in Greek or Punic colonial contexts, around the Mediterranean. The chronology of production is very wide and ranges from the sixth century BC until the third century BC.
This example comes from the Iberian village of Pla de les Tenalles de la Mora, an unknown context, with a vague dating that should be between the fourth century BC and early second century BC. However, owing to its good state of preservation, it is most likely that it comes from the destruction levels of the village which are dated in around 200 BC.
© Museu comarcal de l'Urgell-Tàrrega
Omeka ID
1261