Most Likely, Decoding Iron Age Ceramics:
Israel Museum Exhibition
This project, developed as part of the "Most Likely" exhibition at the Israel Museum, investigates a series of perforated ceramic vessels from the Iron Age (7th–6th centuries BCE) found across multiple archaeological sites in Israel. The exhibition invites designers to explore unsolved archaeological mysteries, bridging design and archaeology to offer fresh interpretations of ancient objects. Given the diverse theories about the vessels' functions, this study applies a design methodology to hypothesize possible uses. Through detailed morphological analysis and experimental testing, I aimed to uncover the potential roles of these vessels in daily and ritualistic practices, recreating and testing functional scenarios to bring new insights into their purpose.
Israel Museum Exhibition by Oded Friedland and Nurit Goshen
Archaeological Experts and Design Historians
2024
The approach began with analyzing each vessel individually to identify distinct and recurring features, establishing a hierarchy of design elements. By recognizing commonalities and variances among the vessels, I classified them into functional families, each representing potential uses. These families served as a foundation for experimental tests, conducted using ceramic molds to cast replicas that averaged the features of all ten vessels. This hands-on testing phase was critical, allowing for practical validation of the hypothesized functions in collaboration with archaeologists and historians.
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The investigation divided the vessels into five functional families based on structural attributes and potential uses. These included families such as filtration vessels for liquid separation, containers for dry goods requiring ventilation, and vessels likely used in ritual practices. Each family represents a possible function derived from morphological clues, such as the placement and orientation of perforations, which suggested unique purposes ranging from food preparation to ritualistic incense burning. By visualizing these scenarios, I aimed to identify and reconstruct plausible functions, enhancing our understanding of these ancient artifacts.
The visual representations played a central role in communicating the project’s hypotheses. By illustrating each functional scenario, I could engage experts from various disciplines, sparking discussions and new interpretations of the vessels. This iterative process—moving between 2D sketches and physical 3D prototypes—enabled the exploration of multiple configurations and practical applications, deepening the understanding of each vessel's potential function.
Testing process of 12 reconstructed vessels from different functional families, exploring their potential uses and historical context.
Filmed by Itai Lifshitz