Oval Ceramic Jar

The Oval Ceramic Jar is an archaeological jar made from a clay paste with a yellowish tint. It was discovered in Qaryat al-Faw, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Arabian Peninsula, located southwest of Riyadh, the capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at a distance of seven hundred km. It has an oval shape, featuring a narrow neck of moderate height that ends with a mouth whose lip protrudes outward before curving upward. It also has two ear-like projections affixed to the upper part of its body beneath the neck. The jar rests on a low, prominent, concave circular base with ribbing on its outer surface.

The dating of the oval ceramic jar places it between the third century BCE and the third century CE, and it was used for storing liquids. The jar is exhibited at the Department of Archaeology at King Saud University in Riyadh City and was previously selected to participate alongside other collections and pieces of archaeological discoveries of historical value in Saudi Arabia to participate in the Saudi Archeological Masterpieces Through the Ages Exhibition.

The ceramic jar was discovered during archaeological survey and excavation work carried out by the antiquities and museums sector in Saudi Arabia over recent years as a result of the efforts of Saudi archaeologists, scientific missions, and joint research teams.

The diameter of the ceramic jar’s mouth is seven cm, the diameter of its base is 11,3 cm, and its height is thirty-nine cm. This shape of vessel indicates contact with the Levant and Mesopotamia, where the cylindrical form of glazed vessels is widespread. The jar is registered under number 172 Q 2.