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Monday 22 November 2010

Artwork of the day

Bronze and gold statuette of a deity, probably of Syro-Palestine origin, 14th c. BC

When the excavations of the Uluburun shipwreck started in 1984 in the coasts of Turkey, the archaeological world was amazed by the quantity and quality of artefacts that the ship carried during its last trip. The ship has been dated through dendrochronology to the late 14th century BC (c 1316-1305 BC) which corresponds to the later part of the Bronze Age in the region. It was 15 metres long, made from cedar wood and could carry up to 20 tonnes of cargo from almost all the civilizations of the area. 
This statuette made of bronze and gold was carried by the ship and could have been used as the protective deity of the ship. Based on its style it is believed that it was probably of Syro-palestine origin.

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