1927.36.2.2

Collection type

Object

Description

Flint sickle blade with plaster setting

Geographical reference

Israel

Asia > Western Asia > Israel

Tell Jemmeh [Gerar]

Person

Field collector William Matthew Flinders Petrie

Field collector British School of Archaeology in Egypt

PRM source British School of Archaeology in Egypt

Date

Date collected

1926 - 1927

Acquisition information

Donated: 1927

Materials and processes

Material Flint Stone, Material Plaster, Process Flaked, Process Retouched

Dimensions

Length: max 66 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1927.36.2.2

Research and responses

This object is from the site of Tell Jemmeh, excavated by Sir William Flinders Petrie in 1926/1927, which he erroneously identified with the biblical site of Gerar (Petrie 1928, Gerar). This project was was sponsored by the BSAE (British School of Archaeology in Egypt), an organisation largely run by Petrie and his wife. 172' level describes the findspot of this object, at 172 foot above sea level; this suggests that the object may have come from a Late Bronze Age context at the site. Petrie dated the material at Jemmeh according to the Egyptian chronology that he was familiar with, in this case 'Hyksos', but this object is of local Palestinian origin, and his date is in any case incorrect. Petrie often made up 'sets' of flint sickle blades for distribution to museums from individual pieces found; it is therefore not certain that this group of 5 sickle blades were found in situ together [RTS 7/11/2003].

Associated publications

Petrie, W.M.F. 1928. Gerar. London: British School of Archaeology in Egypt. [AS 04/01/2010]

Search terms: Tool, Agriculture and Horticulture, Flake, Agricultural Tool