Lots of Pots: Cooking-Pot Deposits in Early Roman Jerusalem

Extensive excavations over the last few decades in and around Jerusalem have yielded large quantities of cooking vessels, including instances of intentional cooking-pot deposits. Since not all concentrations of cooking pots can be grouped as a single phenomenon, this article aims at categorizing and defining the different categories of cooking-pot deposits in Early Roman Jerusalem to better understand each occurrence and to offer a refined interpretation thereof. This allows us to trace and evaluate different processes and behaviors prevalent in Jerusalem during the Early Roman period. It also sheds light on the dynamics of interaction between the local population, visitors and pilgrims in the ‘Temple City’ of Jerusalem during the late Second Temple period.