Pots and Polities: Material Remains of Late Iron Age Judah in Relation to Its Political Borders

Archaeological studies during the last three decades have tended to draw a sharp separation between "pots" and "people." The latter are understood as ethnic units, but ethnicity is problematic to define and use in archaeology. On the other hand, political units or polities can be studied more easily, at least for historical periods. There are rich historical sources about political borders in the ancient Near East and Judah. During the later part of the Iron Age II (eighth-seventh centuries B. C.), Judah existed as a state, or "polity," with clear political borders. Despite many difficulties, it is possible to define Judaean material culture and to consider its relation to the borders of Judah. This article calls for a more balanced attitude toward the question of material remains and political entities.