Stone Vessels in the Levant

Rachael Thyrza Sparks

This volume is refreshingly different from other monographs on stone vessels of the eastern Mediterranean region. It not only describes the typology, chronology, and materials of the vessels - which is where other treatments stop - but also provides a thorough discussion of their archaeological contexts. The author is to be congratulated for producing a scholarly work of the first magnitude as well as an authoritative reference of great usefulness. It deserves a place in the library of every student of stone vessels and not just those with an interest in the Levant.' -- James A. Harrell American Journal Of Archaeology May 2009 ...a masterful analysis serving multiple purposes, from a useful comparative stone vessel typology to a broader investigation of the influence of imported vessels on the development of local workshops and styles.[...]Stones Vessels in the Levant fills an enormous gap in our knowledge of stone vessels,[...]The volume is well organized, carefully edited, with good-quality illustrations of artifacts;[...]...a necessary addition to any library dedicated to Near Eastern archaeology and will be the standard reference for understanding stone vessels of the second millennium B.C. for decades. Sparks is to be congratulated for her meticulous attention to detail and her ability to contextualize the production and consumption of stone vessels within the broader Levant and the eastern Mediterranean world. We can only hope that this thorough work will inspire future researchers to follow suit and produce similar publications for other periods.' -- Yorke M. Rowan, The Oriental Institute Basor 358, 2010

• Stone Vessels in the Levant