General Information

This group includes containers that were produced for the transport of foodstuffs, such as oil or wine, however, it is not easy to differentiate between containers made for transporting goods and those made for household activities. Production began in the 4th century CE in several production centers spread across Upper Egypt.

According to Lawall (2003, 177) this is a smaller type of amphora. "The height of the neck projecting above the handles seems to decrease through time; shoulders tend to widen and become more clearly distinguished from the body below, either by a high clay ridge or a sharply angled turn down to the body. Earlier handles tend to have a taller, narrower profile, attaching closer to the neck; later handles attach more closely to the edge of the shoulder with a squatter profile."

The fragments discovered on Elephantine/Aswan often feature resin on the interior.

The fabric is made of Egyptian Nile clay, brown-"chocolate" in color, sometimes with grey or grey-blue core. Texture is medium-fine.The inclusions consist of fine gold mica particles, chaff, and some grains of quartz.

Transportamphore LRA 7 - Katzjäger 2017

Egyptian Type IV - Lawall 2003, 177-180

Aswan, Elephantine (Egypt/Upper Egypt)

Dime, Soknopaiou Nesos (Egypt/Fayoum)

Ashkelon (Israel-Palestinian Authority/Southern Coastal Plain)

Tall Jawa (Jordan/Central Highlands)