The gazelle-headed drinking vessel from Iran reveals more than societal values and dining practices of ancient Mesopotamia. In considering every aspect of known information about the artifact, one can begin to understand individuals’ behavior as well as how human relationships formed and played out. While only the date, origin, and medium are known, the spouted gazelle-head vessel makes a case for the time immemorial practice of long-distance migration and interaction of peoples.
Geography and dating:
In relation to the rest of the spouted vessel collection in the “Taste for Luxury in Ancient Iran,” the earthenware gazelle head stands out. Other vessels depict feline animals and are made of silver and/or other metallic material, but were all originally excavated from Iran. But excavation site does not always indicate the location of creation, as trade, looting, gifting and numerous other reasons can account for the presence of an artifact at a location. Through the use of absolute dating techniques, archaeologists can determine an artifact’s original location and sometimes even when it was created. For the earthenware gazelle vessel two methods would most likely be applied:
Thermoluminescence – clay, in its original, unbaked form, collects or absorbs radiation (electrons) at a constant rate every year. Once a potter has molded and fired their creation, this radiation is released, but after the firing, the object once again begins to absorb radiation. Once excavated, an archaeologist can fire the object again and measure the amount of radiation released, giving a pretty clear time period. While this technique is relatively new, it can be especially helpful in dating some of the oldest fired pottery.
Soil/clay sampling – In brief, different landscapes have their own soil or clay makeup, which remains relatively unchanged. By examining this makeup, archaeologists can pinpoint general regions where an object’s material source originates.
Archaeology and trade:
The image of the bovine creature is certainly not specific to Mesopotamia (containing the area that is now known as the Middle East). Rather, it is found other Mediterranean cities and cultures as well, the most notable and contemporaneous with the gazelle-headed vessel being ancient Greece – depicting Gods, the sacred, etc. (Rotroff). Even more connected with ancient Grecian culture is the structure and function of the vessel. The almost-horn shape – large opening, narrow base with a hole at the bottom for consumption – is both described and drawn in Hellenistic images of the symposia, generally understood as a large feast with abundance of wine. The structure of the vessel makes it so once a beverage is poured in, one must continuously consume it unless spillage is not an issue. While it is certainly possible these two cultures developed similar drinking vessels at around the same time, archaeologists have identified trade markers between Mediterranean cities that date back to the Naqada II/III periods, centuries before the Hellenistic and Achaemenid periods (Rosińska-Balik). More conceivably, trade and migration was established centuries prior, making the convergence and sharing of ideas inevitable by the 3rd century BCE. If true, this vessel demonstrates the ongoing fluidity of identity, challenging the rigid identity barriers and categorizations of today.
— Emmie Poth-Nebel and Junru Zhou