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Chlorite is a distinctive gray-green stone that
was utilized during antiquity for the fabrication
of luxurious containers in the greater Gulf region
as well as southern Iran. Excavations at the
archeological site of Tepe Yaya, dated to the
mid-third millennium B.C., in Iran unearthed the
ruins of workshops where such vessels were
discovered. As well, raw materials used for their
manufacture, chlorite as well as steatite, quarried
from the nearby hills were also present. On the
island of Tarut, in the Gulf close to the Arabian
coast, over six hundred complete and
fragmentary vessels and weights have been
unearthed. Because many partially formed
objects found on Tarut were discovered next to
chunks of unworked chlorite, it has been
surmised that this island was once a center of
production for these works.
Found throughout the ancient Near East, from
Syria to the Indus Valley, revealing the extensive
trade routes of the time, these works are
classified by modern historians as belonging to
the “Intercultural Style,” called so because they
derive iconographical elements from both Near
Eastern and Harappan traditions. Much like the
written cuneiform alphabet was used by several
distinct cultures throughout the ancient Near East
to dictate their individual spoken languages, so
such vessels were created by various cultures,
each adorning the works with their own distinct
aesthetic style. Many examples were discovered
in the ruins of palace and temple structures or
entombed in the graves of the nobility, including
Sumerian Mesopotamia. Clearly these vessels
were among the most precious luxury items that
could only be afforded by the ruling elite.
This small ovoid jar with a slightly flaring rim
has been decorated with the image of interwoven
serpents. The scales on the serpents' skin have
been inlaid with white shell, creating a charming
effect. This motif is consistent with the
“Intercultural Style” which characteristically
include vegetal, architectural, animal, and human
themes.
- (X.0320 W)
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