Unravelling the function of Aegean fireboxe. An integrated archaeological, experimental and archaeometric study.
Résumé
Aegean perfumery has traditionally been studied through the lens of Mycenaean Linear B tablets from Pylos, Knossos and Mycenae, which document a palatial perfume industry during the final centuries of the Bronze Age. However, Linear B records reflect only a fraction of a civilization that spanned nearly two millennia. In contrast, the identification of archaeological findings potentially related to perfumery is considered challenging and they have often been overlooked. Fireboxes are amongst artefacts frequently associated with perfumery. This clay object, resembling an inverted cup with a hollow sphere and downward perforations, often bears burning marks on its inner surface. Distribution of the fireboxes extends across the Southeastern Aegean, from Crete to the Cyclades and Western Anatolia, with the highest concentration found in Crete, suggesting a Minoan origin. While early interpretations identified these artifacts as boilers, braziers or incense burners, recent studies have proposed their use in the production of perfumes or unguents. Despite being the subject of several studies, the actual function of this object remains debated. Our research aims at providing a more thorough understanding of fireboxes, exploring their role in the processing of aromatizing spaces and people. Specifically, this study presents new findings from the analysis of fireboxes excavated from both palatial and non-palatial contexts of the Aegean Bronze Age. It also reports on preliminary experimental reconstructions and organic residue analyses that explore the techniques of perfume and unguent production, as well as the types of fragrances used. By integrating diverse lines of evidence, this research seeks to investigate the function of fireboxes and the use of scented oils, expanding on the same time our knowledge on Aegean perfumery practices beyond the limited timeframe of the Linear B tablets, offering a more comprehensive view of this craft throughout the second millennium BC.
Domaines
Archéologie et PréhistoireOrigine | Fichiers produits par l'(les) auteur(s) |
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