Aegean-style pottery from the old excavations at Alalakh: chronological and socio-historical implications

Aegean-style pottery, produced across the Eastern Mediterranean, has been identified in limited quantities at Alalakh. Despite its scarcity, this pottery is pivotal for dating the onset of the Iron Age I (IA I) period, both at Alalakh and across the region, often interpreted either as evidence of migration or socioeconomic interactions and identity formation. This study examines previously unpublished Aegean-style pottery from Woolley’s excavations, housed at UCL, to reassess its chronological and cultural significance. Through macroscopic analysis and stylistic comparisons, eight vessels were identified, offering new insights into Alalakh’s earliest IA I habitation phase, dated to the first half of the 12th century BCE. Furthermore, functional interpretations of the pottery’s diverse forms reflect dynamic cultural entanglements, blending local and Aegean practices, highlighting the socio-historical importance of Aegean-style pottery in the region during this transitional period.