Mediterranean Stone Anchors: Bronze Age Trade & Social Practice

Abstract

The history and distribution of Bronze Age Mediterranean stone anchors reflect the trade routes, and probably that of copper in particular. Although generally associated with the eastern Mediterranean, they are found farther afield – and, although their usage in the late second millennium BC may well have been largely commercial, the origins of the anchors may lie in the activities of the Egyptian state. There is thus an historical development as well as a distribution pattern. Aligning this archaeological evidence with the various models on offer is a challenge or an opening, as the material is mute and open to discussion.