283:
coffin, which was smoothed down and compressed back into itself. And lastly the interior was left rough and undefined with coils still notable. Some times handles can be found along the sides of the coffins, used for carrying as well as adapted and molded into representing the facial features on the lids. Handles seem to be one of the local variations that coffin sport; they are found in
Transjordan and Beth-shan. The formations of the arms sculpted thinly along the edge of the lid are a conceptual representation and on a majority of the coffins they are not overly defined. There are instances of painted or scribed hieroglyphs on the exteriors of the coffins, though they are usually crudely rendered.
332:
molded separately and then later replaced upon the larger coffin, the shape of the lid hole also took into consideration the interning of bodies and is large enough for its purpose. Distinctive features are the high curved forehead, arched eyebrows and eyelid, broad turned up nose with deeply indented nostrils, plump cheeks, and protruding chin. Flat planes and consistent lines complete the face. Arms are often thin and stick like, crossed or holding objects such as lotus blossoms. The formations of the arms sculpted thinly along the edge of the lid are a conceptual representation and on a majority of the coffins they are not overly defined.
508:
350:
107:
319:
269:
impurities; rocks, sand, pot shards, and straw can be found in the shards. The inconsistencies in the property of the clay would not have been detrimental to the coffin’s stability, it would in fact have helped the structure. Rocks, sand, grit, and broken shards in the clay would have allowed for less stress on the form while it was drying. This stronger clay would have made the surface require more smoothing attention.
296:
burn off all of the water that was mixed into it to create a malleable material to craft and mold with. With the smaller face masks, where more time was devoted to sculpting, molding, and carving the features, more care has then been taken to ensure that they would last. "The coffins were fired in an open fire at a low temperature, which would account for the sometimes crumbly and mottled material."
418:
Egyptian, the slanting shape of the eyes, arched eyebrows, and representation of the hair and the wigs are the most notable. Roman coffins, from an later period then our Near
Eastern coffins, are poor earthenware imitations. Both the Near Eastern coffins and those of the Roman’s are imitations of Egyptian style coffins with individual features being characteristic of the regions they were crafted.
559:, stirrup jars, and cooking pots. The pottery found inside the coffins is smaller and of a higher quality, including Cypriots milk bowls, Egyptian alabaster cups, pilgrim flasks, and juglets. The earlier burials (14th–12th centuries BCE) were associated with more Egyptian influenced pottery and finds, whereas the later burials (12th–10th centuries BCE) were associated with the
612:
Most of the information known about these burials has been taken from the associated finds due to the lack of written evidence. Only on two occasions was there writing associated with the burials; one, a badly preserved funerary stele lining a grave at Deir el-Balah and two, a coffin lid from
Lachish
566:
Bronze tools and implements were another common burial offering associated with anthropoid ceramic coffins. The bronze items are usually
Egyptian in style and consist of bowls, pitchers, knives, and in one case a wine set. The wine set consisted of a bronze pitcher and a strainer and is one of only a
277:
The coffins where coil built, this technique is done with large amounts of clay formed into coils and then layered upon one another with water or slip to act as a binder between layers. Whinding and forming the structure, large objects can be built in stages this way as a result of the lower sections
621:
found inside many of the coffins. The use of the pellets has yet to be discovered. The biggest unknown still surrounding these coffins, that the offerings have helped to unravel, is who were the coffins made for. Scholars have suggested they are for
Egyptians, Canaanites imitating the Egyptians, and
417:
There are many similarities to
Egyptian burials and iconography found in Near Eastern Clay Coffins. Coffins with face lids from Egypt’s poor have been dated to 18th and 19th Dynasties (ca. 1575-1200). Lotus flowers carved into head masks as a symbol of rebirth. The features of the face have visibly
331:
Naturalistic style coffins have well defined heads and facial features. These coffins are often molded in relief and have large
Egyptian features, i.e. almond shaped eyes, arched eyebrows, straight noses, and full lips. The hair or wigs tend to be molded less sharply. The face lid of the coffins are
282:
stage when the clay was firm but still mailable. The facial features tend to be formed by molding with the clay that is part of the formed lid, though with lids of the grotesque style applying more clay to the surface. Attention was paid most notably to the face lids, secondly to the exterior of the
248:
coffin from external pressure. In antiquity many coffins had fallen prey to grave robbers. These disturbed coffins, even though looted of their valuable objects, still hold a great deal of importance. Examining the coffins themselves proves to be of great value. In earlier times, at the end of the
295:
have the lids close to intact while the body of the coffin, being fragile, broke easily upon excavation. The stability of the clay is determined by how it was treated and how it has been fired. More durable ceramic pieces have been fired to a higher temperature, allowing the clay to dehydrate and
591:
art motifs in the funerary adornment. Many of the beads found were made out of a semi-precious stone, carnelian. Another interesting find associated with one of the coffins at Deir el-Balah was a makeup spoon in the shape of a diving woman. This is a common motif found in
Egyptian art of the New
268:
Local clay was used for the building of these coffins. Due to the large length, girth, and the weight it seems ideal for the construction to take place near. Moving them long distances wouldn't have been feasible as the heavy clay would have been fragile. The material makeup of the clay has many
247:
anthropoid coffins where found when locals were reclaiming sand dunes. The coffins were found among a few simple burials and when unearthed appeared to be in pristine shape, however they were actually being held together by the sand that had filled the cracks and was supporting the frame of the
582:
These anthropoid ceramic coffins appear to have been associated with wealthier individuals and consequently have a trove of expensive small finds. Many beads from necklaces and bracelets made of expensive materials were found inside the coffins. Golden beads in the shapes of
278:
being allowed to dry to support the continued addition of clay. Tapered at one or both ends. There is evidence that the lids were cut out of the forms after the initial building to be reworked and molded, this would have been done at the
231:. Items found here can be said to have arrived from a variety of sources. However, there is evidence of strong Egyptian influence on local items as well as items imported from Egypt. This is the earliest site of anthropoid coffins in
454:
were buried in similar ritual contexts dating from the 14th-11th centuries BCE. The coffins were cut into a foundation of Kurkar (sandstone) or hamrah (red sand) and lined with rough stones and oriented to the west. The coffins at
235:. There is speculation about the source of the development of anthropoid coffins at this site, but Dothan believes that the source is more likely Egyptian than Philistine. Items here date from the 11-13th centuries.
409:
like rim, this can appear like the opening of a vase. This style can also have a round opening in the base. The bottoms of both the feet are outlined. The lid is small in proportion to the coffin.
370:
the face gives a bizarre somewhat caricature-like effect." The grotesque lids are associated with the later coffins of the 11th-10th centuries BCE and the construction practices of the
Philistines.
622:
the
Philistines. From the dates associated with the finds, it appears that the coffins originated with Egyptians and Egyptian influence in Canaan and then was adopted by the Philistines later.
884:
138:
include inhumation, clay coffins, and tombs with stairways and vaulting. Clay coffins are often associated with the poorest graves in Egyptian society, though not always in
479:
contained roughly fifty coffins with surviving face lids. These graves had been disturbed in antiquity and the amount of information left was sparse. The coffins from
181:, examined by Rowe and Petrie respectively. The objects found here are in stark contrast to those found at Canaanite tombs and are more closely associated with the
495:
the several rock cut tombs found there containing anthropoid ceramic coffins date from a later period, 12th–10th centuries BCE, and are mostly associated with
362:
Grotesque style coffins have eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, ears, and beard that have been applied separately to the leather hard clay. This can be done with a
405:
Cylindrical Coffins, or Group B, have a head and shoulders that are not delineated. There is sometimes a round opening at the top of the head with a molded
59:
and exhibit many Egyptian qualities in the depictions on the face masks on the lids. The lids can be separated into two artistic categories, the
571:
style bronze mirror was found. Bronze was not the only type metal artifact found; in one of the tombs at Tell el-Far’ah one of oldest pieces of
881:
260:
there were many coffins placed next to one another in rows. These coffins were painted and plain, painted coffins are not commonly mentioned.
393:, it is mummy shaped with delineated head and shoulders in various proportions and silhouettes. The shape follows he traditional concept of
604:, have been found in context with most of the coffins and suggest that the people buried in the coffins were possibly Egyptian officials.
613:
that had poorly written and preserved hieroglyphs on it. There are still some mysteries associated with these burials, one being sets of
463:
at the head of the burial with dipper jugs inside and bowls on top serving as lids, these deposits served as the grave markers. At
131:
and the Egyptians. There is some disagreement about the social and economic associations of this form of burial among scholars.
381:
Typologically the coffins have been divided into two groups according to the outline of the lids and coffins. The groups are:
123:
in Egypt that were gradually disseminated to other regions and peoples. They were one of several forms of burial utilized by
900:
750:
592:
Kingdom period. One of the more important small finds associated with the coffins from all sites they were found at are
555:. The pottery found outside of the coffin is typically larger and of a more utilitarian variety, such as storage jars,
256:
and Egypt, clay coffins were imitations of ornamental wooden ones. Although most commonly found in single graves, at
515:
These burials were typically associated with a large variety of expensive grave offerings. The offerings consist of
216:
influenced the development of these sites, however it is more likely that they are a result of Egyptian influence.
165:
and located on a hill . He notes that the writing found here has no known identification, being dissimilar to both
31:
are coffins with human features that date from the 14th to 10th centuries BCE. These coffins have been found at
197:
291:
The lids of the coffins are more often in better shape then the main bodies. The coffins found in Tomb 116 at
185:. Generally, the findings suggest a date between the 11th and 12th centuries for the creation of these tombs.
1025:
467:
the coffins typically contained more than one individual and contained up to four people in some cases. At
363:
150:
120:
568:
95:. The graves appear to be originally reserved for Egyptian officials and then later became a part of
492:
439:
178:
44:
1010:
527:
of precious metals and stones. Wide ranges of ceramic offerings are found with the burials such as
253:
279:
212:
in origin. A scarab found at this site dates to the 11–12th century. Some have suggested that the
209:
593:
471:
the coffins were placed into rock cut tombs also facing the west from the same time period as
257:
249:
166:
56:
483:
were unique and were adorned with headdresses, which some have suggested to mean they are of
322:
Anthropoid Clay Coffin with face lid and crossed arms. An example of a naturalistic face lid.
1015:
536:
394:
146:
75:, cylindrical. The graves contain wealthy funerary offerings from a variety of origins from
1020:
888:
353:
Anthropoid Clay Coffin with face lid and crossed arms. An example of a grotesque face lid.
507:
349:
106:
447:
318:
313:
52:
1004:
472:
464:
456:
451:
443:
427:
390:
292:
244:
224:
189:
158:
154:
48:
32:
588:
426:
There were burials containing anthropoid ceramic coffins excavated at the sites of
220:
208:
because he thought it was similar to Petrie's findings. However, it was actually
119:
The anthropoid clay coffins are generally believed to have been a product of the
213:
182:
547:
pottery. The pottery can be separated into two categories, that which is found
192:
in 1885. As a result of the pottery he located here, he described the tombs as
601:
597:
560:
544:
496:
484:
480:
476:
468:
431:
100:
36:
25:
587:
and lotus blossoms were common and showed the incorporation of Egyptian and
584:
344:
174:
135:
88:
64:
567:
few complete sets found. In a rich coffin of a woman at Deir el-Balah an
516:
366:
that joins two separate pieces of clay together. "The fact that the lid
540:
524:
488:
435:
80:
60:
40:
434:
predominantly, however there were coffins found in smaller numbers at
173:. Albright describes his finds at this tomb as similar to findings at
576:
556:
532:
528:
520:
460:
406:
232:
228:
201:
170:
139:
96:
92:
76:
28:
506:
348:
317:
124:
105:
84:
196:
and suggested that they were from the 5th to 7th century B.C. At
304:
Face Lids fall into two categories, naturalistic or grotesque.
128:
161:
who personally visited the site. He describes the tomb as
153:, was alerted to the existence of a tomb near the city of
450:. Many of the excavated anthropoid ceramic coffins from
511:
Interior of an Anthropoid Clay Coffin, ceramic vessels.
55:
in 2013. The coffins show Egyptian influence in the
188:In Egypt, Petries discovered several burials near
347:Coffin Lids have no delineated facial outlines.
223:described recent findings at the cemetery of
8:
204:tombs. He described the pottery he found as
600:of New Kingdom Pharaohs, including one of
865:
863:
844:
842:
802:
800:
798:
796:
783:
781:
779:
777:
817:
815:
649:
647:
631:
316:Coffin Lids have a clearly shown face.
7:
389:This style is the dominant shape at
200:in 1888, Naville discovered several
67:, and the bodies are separated into
596:. Scarabs bearing imagery and the
71:, tapered from the shoulders, and
14:
149:, Director of Antiquities for
18:Ancient Egyptian burial customs
1:
134:Burial customs used by the
475:. The northern cemetery at
51:, and most recently in the
1042:
882:Ancient Egyptians. Coffins
22:Anthropoid ceramic coffins
551:and that which is found
110:Anthropoid Clay Coffins.
887:5 December 2014 at the
459:were marked with large
243:In a cemetery south of
512:
354:
323:
273:Construction technique
254:First Dynasty of Sumer
111:
553:outside of the coffin
510:
413:Egyptian similarities
352:
321:
287:Completing and firing
109:
569:Egyptian New Kingdom
397:anthropoid coffins.
364:slipping and scoring
513:
355:
324:
250:Predynastic Period
198:Tell el-Yahuidiyeh
112:
901:"Brooklyn Museum"
549:within the coffin
258:Tell el-Yahudiyeh
57:Ancient Near East
1033:
995:
989:
983:
977:
971:
965:
959:
953:
947:
941:
935:
929:
923:
917:
911:
905:
904:
897:
891:
879:
873:
867:
858:
852:
846:
837:
831:
825:
819:
810:
804:
791:
785:
772:
766:
765:
763:
761:
747:
741:
735:
729:
723:
717:
711:
705:
699:
693:
687:
681:
675:
669:
663:
657:
651:
642:
636:
147:George Horsfield
1041:
1040:
1036:
1035:
1034:
1032:
1031:
1030:
1001:
1000:
999:
998:
992:
986:
980:
974:
968:
962:
956:
950:
944:
938:
932:
926:
920:
914:
908:
899:
898:
894:
889:Wayback Machine
880:
876:
870:
861:
855:
849:
840:
834:
828:
822:
813:
807:
794:
788:
775:
769:
759:
757:
749:
748:
744:
738:
732:
726:
720:
714:
708:
702:
696:
690:
684:
678:
672:
666:
660:
654:
645:
639:
633:
628:
610:
505:
424:
415:
379:
341:
310:
302:
289:
275:
266:
252:and during the
241:
117:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1039:
1037:
1029:
1028:
1026:Jezreel Valley
1023:
1018:
1013:
1003:
1002:
997:
996:
990:
984:
978:
972:
966:
960:
954:
948:
942:
936:
930:
924:
918:
912:
906:
892:
874:
868:
859:
853:
847:
838:
832:
826:
820:
811:
805:
792:
786:
773:
767:
755:British Museum
742:
736:
730:
724:
718:
712:
706:
700:
694:
688:
682:
676:
670:
664:
658:
652:
643:
637:
630:
629:
627:
624:
609:
606:
504:
501:
493:Tell el-Far’ah
448:Jezreel Valley
440:Tell el-Far’ah
423:
420:
414:
411:
403:
402:
387:
386:
378:
375:
374:
373:
372:
371:
357:
356:
340:
337:
336:
335:
334:
333:
326:
325:
309:
306:
301:
298:
288:
285:
274:
271:
265:
262:
240:
237:
179:Tell el-Far’ah
157:. He notified
116:
113:
53:Jezreel Valley
45:Tell el-Far’ah
17:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1038:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1008:
1006:
994:
991:
988:
985:
982:
979:
976:
973:
970:
967:
964:
961:
958:
955:
952:
949:
946:
943:
940:
937:
934:
931:
928:
925:
922:
919:
916:
913:
910:
907:
902:
896:
893:
890:
886:
883:
878:
875:
872:
869:
866:
864:
860:
857:
854:
851:
848:
845:
843:
839:
836:
833:
830:
827:
824:
821:
818:
816:
812:
809:
806:
803:
801:
799:
797:
793:
790:
787:
784:
782:
780:
778:
774:
771:
768:
756:
752:
751:"Clay coffin"
746:
743:
740:
737:
734:
731:
728:
725:
722:
719:
716:
713:
710:
707:
704:
701:
698:
695:
692:
689:
686:
683:
680:
677:
674:
671:
668:
665:
662:
659:
656:
653:
650:
648:
644:
641:
638:
635:
632:
625:
623:
620:
616:
607:
605:
603:
599:
595:
590:
586:
580:
578:
574:
570:
564:
562:
558:
554:
550:
546:
542:
538:
534:
530:
526:
522:
518:
509:
502:
500:
498:
494:
490:
486:
482:
478:
474:
473:Deir el-Balah
470:
466:
465:Deir el-Balah
462:
458:
457:Deir el-Balah
453:
452:Deir el-Balah
449:
445:
441:
437:
433:
429:
428:Deir el-Balah
421:
419:
412:
410:
408:
400:
399:
398:
396:
392:
391:Deir el-Balah
384:
383:
382:
376:
369:
365:
361:
360:
359:
358:
351:
346:
343:
342:
338:
330:
329:
328:
327:
320:
315:
312:
311:
307:
305:
299:
297:
294:
293:Deir el-Balah
286:
284:
281:
272:
270:
263:
261:
259:
255:
251:
246:
245:Deir el-Balah
238:
236:
234:
230:
226:
225:Deir el-Balah
222:
217:
215:
211:
207:
203:
199:
195:
191:
190:Tell Nebesheh
186:
184:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
160:
159:W.F. Albright
156:
152:
148:
143:
141:
137:
132:
130:
126:
122:
121:First Dynasty
114:
108:
104:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
54:
50:
46:
42:
38:
34:
33:Deir el-Balah
30:
27:
23:
16:
993:
987:
981:
975:
969:
963:
957:
951:
945:
939:
933:
927:
921:
915:
909:
895:
877:
871:
856:
850:
835:
829:
823:
808:
789:
770:
758:. Retrieved
754:
745:
739:
733:
727:
721:
715:
709:
703:
697:
691:
685:
679:
673:
667:
661:
655:
640:
634:
619:bone pellets
618:
614:
611:
589:Near Eastern
581:
572:
565:
552:
548:
514:
425:
416:
404:
388:
380:
377:Coffin types
367:
314:Naturalistic
303:
290:
280:leather hard
276:
267:
242:
221:Trude Dothan
218:
205:
193:
187:
163:cistern-like
162:
144:
133:
118:
72:
68:
24:of the Late
21:
20:
15:
579:was found.
499:offerings.
487:origin. At
214:Philistines
210:Palestinian
183:Philistines
151:Transjordan
1011:Bronze Age
1005:Categories
626:References
608:Conclusion
602:Rameses II
598:cartouches
561:Philistine
545:Philistine
497:Philistine
485:Philistine
481:Beth Shean
477:Beth Shean
469:Beth Shean
446:, and the
432:Beth Shean
101:Philistine
37:Beth Shean
26:Bronze Age
585:palmettes
563:culture.
541:Mycenaean
533:Canaanite
503:Offerings
345:Grotesque
339:Grotesque
300:Face lids
219:In 1973,
175:Beth-shan
136:Egyptians
125:Sumerians
103:culture.
97:Canaanite
89:Phoenicia
65:grotesque
885:Archived
760:15 April
537:Egyptian
517:ceramics
395:Egyptian
264:Ceramics
206:Cypriote
194:Cypriote
145:In 1929
1016:Burials
594:scarabs
575:in the
529:Cypriot
525:jewelry
521:bronzes
489:Lachish
436:Lachish
422:Burials
401:Group B
385:Group A
308:Natural
239:Coffins
167:Semitic
115:History
81:Mycenae
61:natural
41:Lachish
1021:Canaan
577:Levant
557:pithoi
543:, and
523:, and
461:pithoi
407:pithos
233:Canaan
229:Canaan
202:tumuli
171:Arabic
140:Levant
93:Canaan
91:, and
77:Cyprus
73:type B
69:type A
29:Levant
615:stone
444:Sahab
155:Sahab
85:Egypt
49:Sahab
762:2023
617:and
573:Iron
491:and
430:and
177:and
169:and
99:and
63:and
227:in
127:at
1007::
862:^
841:^
814:^
795:^
776:^
753:.
646:^
539:,
535:,
531:,
519:,
442:,
438:,
368:is
142:.
129:Ur
87:,
83:,
79:,
47:,
43:,
39:,
35:,
903:.
764:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
