Goddesses, Snake Tubes, and Plaques: Analysis of Ceramic Ritual Objects from the LM IIIC Shrine at Kavousi

Ceramic ritual objects from the Late Minoan IIIC (ca. 1175-1050 B.C.) shrine at Kavousi, Crete, were analyzed by thin-section petrography and scanning electron microscopy. The authors investigate aspects of the objects' production technology, drawing on the extensive comparative data available in the study area. It appears that potters manufactured these items as sets, in different locations around the Isthmus of Ierapetra, utilizing different raw materials, paste recipes, and firing conditions. These contrasting technologies relate to those used in the manufacture of cooking pots and to a range of jug/jar types, indicating that objects considered specialized may have been made by different groups of potters in the same area.