Ostriches and people in archaeological contexts in the southern Levant and beyond

Abstract

This article considers the archaeology, based mainly on eggs, of the extinct ratite (flightless birds, infraclass Palaeognathae) Struthio camelus syriacus (henceforth referred to as ‘ostrich’). Ostrich eggs were used as canteens, vessels, or raw material to produce prestige objects or ornaments. Starting with eggs discovered in a Middle Bronze Age cemetery in Tel Aviv, the production technology, symbolism and meaning, as well as assumed motivations and other cultural marks are analysed. The finds are analysed in a broader context, including the relationship between man and ostrich. The article reviews occurrences where ostrich-related remains, such as workshops, complete and fragmented eggs, as well as a small number of bones that have been recovered in archaeological excavations and surveys, have been found.

Keywords:

• ostrich
• eggshell
• nest
• canteen
• beads
• ratites
• hunt
• Struthio camelus

Acknowledgements

Liora Kolska-Horwitz (The Hebrew University of Jerusalem), Guy Bar-Oz (Haifa University), Ianir Milevski (Prehistory Branch, IAA), Lee Perry-Gal (Archaeozoological Branch, IAA) provided valuable information. Tali Erickson-Gini (IAA), Mabel Fernández (Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; CONICET) and Marcelo Vítores (Universidad de Luján and UBA) provided us with graphic material. The maps were produced by Natalia Zak, Anjelina Degot and Ram Shoeff (IAA). Katharina Pyschny (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin) kindly made her unpublished research available to us, as did Adolfo Muniz (CSUSM). In the same vein, Zvi Greenhut, Ianir Milevsky, Jacob Vardi and Tali Erickson-Gini (all IAA) generously provided us with unpublished photographs. Such sharing is far from trivial. Graciela Gestoso (CEHAO), Romina Della Casa (UCA), Juan Manuel Tebes (UCA-UBA) and Amir Gilan (TAU) offered valuable assistance with ancient written sources. Yael Ganin-Hameiri (TAU Sourasky Library), Marina Korbanov (IAA Rockefeller Library) and Ofrah Barkai (IAA) were of great help. Duʻaa Abu Salaḥ (IAA) contributed by translating Arabic sources. We are indebted to all.

Notes

1 The fragmented items were restored by Victoria Novikovsky (IAA Organic Matter Artifacts Treatment Laboratories).

2 The egg was examined and photographed under Dinolite microscope at ×30 magnification by Daniella E. Bar-Yosef Mayer (Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University) and Heeli Schechter (Institute of Archaeology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem). The 3D scanning was performed by Avshalom Karasik (Artifacts Treatment, Conservation and Laboratories Department, IAA). The studio photography was performed by Clara Amit and Daphna Gazit (Photography Department, IAA). The authors are deeply grateful to all for their valuable assistance.

3 The workshop and the eggshell related objects were identified during the IAA excavations at Timna (License A-8397/18; L108; B1016). The picture was provided by Tali Erickson-Gini, to whom the authors are deeply indebted.

4 The authors are grateful to Gil Haklay (IAA Prehistory Branch) who called their attention to this information. For a comprehensive discussion on eggshells as a medium for engraving and colouring see Texier et al. (2010: 6182–83).

5 The authors wish to thank Erez Ben-Yosef for this information, and to Adolfo Muniz that kindly made available important unpublished data.

6 The eggs were found accidentally by a farmer who was spraying the potato fields of Kibbutz Shefayim and Kibbutz Yakum. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3240850,00.html.

7 The eggs were collected by Yehuda Freedman and brought to the museum on July 25, 1977.

8 The authors are grateful to the excavators, Ianir Milevski and Zvi Greenhut, who made this information available to them. (For preliminary reports about the cemetery see Eirikh-Rose 2016; Greenhut et al. 2011; Milevski and Ben-Or 2007; Milevski et al. 2008.)

9 To this day the art of decorated ostrich eggs is still in vogue, for example, see https://semecaelacasaencima.com/museo-huevo-avestruz-pintado-mano/ http://www.cortes.es/museo-del-huevo-de-avestruz/ https://www.muzeuloului-vama.com/index.php?lang=es.

10 The authors are grateful to Shunit Neter-Marmelstein, curator of the Hecht Museum collection.

11 The authors are deeply grateful to Uzi Dahari for his kind assistance in locating the sites in the southern Sinai Peninsula.