Ancient jars — which likely carried perfume, oil and wine — found in Greece. See them
Archaeologists in Greece recently unearthed a trove of ancient jars likely used to transport goods across the Mediterranean world.
The vessels were discovered at Pefkakia, an archaeological site about 200 miles northwest of Athens, according to a study published Jan. 7 in the journal Antiquity.
The site is believed to have been an important port during the Late Bronze Age, which spanned from 1600 to 1050 B.C.
Among the vessels discovered were stirrup jars, which are distinguished by their wide tops and narrow bottoms, photos published in the study show.
Archaeologists uncovered these jars in a variety of sizes, and noted that the smaller vessels likely functioned as perfume flasks. In contrast, the larger vessels — known as transport stirrup jars (TSJs) — were probably used to carry wine or oil.
“While the smaller variety is widely distributed across the Aegean (and beyond), large TSJs show up in substantial quantities at only a handful of sites … ” researchers said.
Based on their analysis, they determined that most of these jars were likely manufactured in Crete, the largest island in Greece, located about 400 miles southeast of Pefkakia.
“A few examples associated with sources on the Greek mainland were also identified,” the archaeologists added.
Additionally, a pair of Canaanite jars were found at the site. These were a popular type of transport container, characterized by having a slim body, narrow base and two handles.
They were likely manufactured in the Levant, a region which comprises modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
One of these jars had “an incised mark on the handle, a sign that is believed to indicate the involvement of Cypriot traders in their circulation,” archaeologists said. “It likely dates to the fourteenth century B.C. and thus represents one of the earliest marked Canaanite jars found in the Aegean.”
The quantity of jars — specifically TSJs — uncovered at the site, indicate Pefkakia would have been “one of the main harbors of the Aegean.”
The study authors were Bartłomiej Lis and Anthi Batziou.
This story was originally published January 13, 2025 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Ancient jars — which likely carried perfume, oil and wine — found in Greece. See them."