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Baltic Amber in Aššur. Forms and Significance of Amber Exchange between Europe and the Middle East, c.2000–1300 BC

In: Acta Archaeologica
Authors:
Jan-Heinrich Bunnefeld Postdoctoral Researcher, State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, State Museum of Prehistory Halle (Saale) Germany

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https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0941-4472
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Jörg Becker Private Lecturer, Seminar for Oriental Archaeology and Art History, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg Halle Germany

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0309-8280
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Lutz Martin Deputy Head (Retired), Vorderasiatisches Museum der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin Berlin Germany

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Regine-Ricarda Pausewein Chemical-Technical Assistant, Rathgen-Forschungslabor der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin Berlin Germany

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Stefan Simon Director, Rathgen-Forschungslabor der Staatlichen Museen zu Berlin Berlin Germany

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3781-3481
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Harald Meller Director and Professor of European Archaeology, State Office for Heritage Management and Archaeology Saxony-Anhalt, State Museum of Prehistory Halle (Saale) Germany

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7590-0375
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Abstract

Under the large ziggurat of Aššur, Iraq, two Baltic amber beads were found in a foundation deposit dating to c.1800–1750 BC. Thereby, they represent one of the earliest and remotest evidence of this material. Its extreme rarity in the Mediterranean and the Middle East before c.1550 BC and its restriction there to high-ranking sites could be explained by the fact that the Únětice culture and the Wessex culture controlled the exchange of this raw material. Probably, the amber finds in the south result from a directional exchange with at most only a few intermediaries, as other finds in Europe and the Middle East from the early 2nd millennium BC also indicate. The amber finds may thus represent gifts from well-travelled persons from central or western Europe to the elites in the south. However, after c.1550 BC the picture changes, and it is perhaps possible to speak of trade through which amber became available in larger quantities in the Mediterranean and the Middle East.

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