Great pots look alike – social and political aspects of mass production of standardized storage jars in early monarchic Israel (late 10th-9th century BCE)

Identifying production units and distinct knowledge communities in the archaeological record is a complex challenge. However, the novel combination of innovative 3D methodologies, advanced shape analysis, and provenance studies enable the detection of consistent, repeatable, and stable characteristics in final products. Utilizing objective tools to trace these consistent parameters is crucial for uncovering the potters’ signatures within their communities.

This study focuses on a distinctive ceramic type, the Hippo Jar, primarily found in the northern valleys of the southern Levant (mainly in the Jezreel, and Beth-Shean Valleys, Israel) during the late Iron Age IIA (late 10th–9th century BCE). The research suggests a link between the widespread production of these jars and the systemic control of the Kingdom of Israel, indicating a coordinated manufacturing effort. The production and distribution of Hippo Jars offer valuable insights into the region’s socio-economic and political organization, particularly regarding centralized administrative oversight and trade networks. Examining Hippo Jars at both landscape and site-unit scales allow for the distinction of production units, revealing a structured and hierarchical manufacturing system. The findings suggest that these jars were produced in a limited number of workshops operating under a centralized framework. Additionally, they highlight the role of trained potters working within a unified social structure, facilitating the deployment of skilled artisans from a central production hub to administrative outposts.