Heraklion Archaeological Museum - CollectiveAccess System : Sealings : Clay sealing [Σ-Τ101]

Clay sealing

Σ-Τ101

Clay

Intact

Length: 3.10 cm. Width: 2.30 cm. approx.

Gournia

"Palace" G3

Late Bronze Age. Neopalatial period, Late Minoan IB period.:

1500-1450 BC:

Gallery:

Case:

Exhibition thematic unit:

Late Bronze Age - Neopalatial period (1700-1450 BC). The New Palaces. The zenith of Minoan civilisation

Scripts and sealing practices

Description

Clay dome-shaped token (nodulus) with bull-leaping scene. Clay noduli served as bureaucratic proofs of transaction. Since they were not attached to goods, they probably functioned independently, as a sort of certified sealed receipt. This example bears an impression made by the same metal signet ring used on sealings from Agia Triada, Sklavokambos and Kato Zakros, indicating the existence of a wide network of exchange across the island.

Bibliography:

Hallager, E. The Minoan Roundel and other Sealed Documents in the Neopalatial Linear A administration, Li?ge, 1996, 219. M?ller, W. and I. Pini. CMS II6. Die Siegelabdr?cke von Aj. Triada und anderen Zentral- und ostkretischen Fundorten, Berlin, 1999, 179.

Author:

G. F.

Photographs' metadata