Dawn of the amphora: the emergence of maritime transport jars in the Early Bronze Age Aegean

In the early part of the Early Bronze (EB) II period, the Aegean world sees the appearance of the collared jar, the first ceramic Maritime Transport Container (MTC) of the region. Based on a study and scientific analyses of hundreds of EB II transport jars, focusing on the harbour towns of Poros-Katsambas on Crete, Akrotiri on Thera and Ayia Irini on Kea, we identify some of the key production areas in both the Cyclades (Kea, Siphnos, Melos, Naxos, Thera) and on mainland Greece (Attica). In addition to surveying the spatial and temporal distribution of these EB II jar types at a number of key Aegean coastal sites, we consider the high value liquid commodity being transported and exchanged in these jars, and suggest wine as a likely candidate. We argue that the emergence of the transport jar in EB II should be viewed as part of the same phenomenon as the outburst of pouring and drinking vessels in contemporary Aegean contexts, all evidence for new social practices of drinking and feasting in the private and public spheres.