When early man first learned to harden clay by firing and turn it into pottery, life in antiquity changed. A new artificial commodity, more flexible and cheaper than other materials, could now be used for art, ritual, storage and household needs. As seen in this exhibit, pottery's durability and the ease with which it could travel have allowed us a penetrating glimpse into the prehistoric and  ancient world.   The Invention of Pottery With the development of agriculture during the Neolithic period (8350-4200 BCE), new tools and materials were needed. Natural materials like stone, wood and bone, which had served humankind during its earlier hunting and food-gathering stage, were no longer adequate. In response to the new demand for storage vessels and containers, pottery, as on display, was created.   Pottery-Making  Ceramic artifacts are the clue to understanding how pottery was made. The potter's finger marks are still imprinted on the inside of the hand-made pottery from the ancient Land of Israel - Chalcolithic and Early Canaanite vessels (4th - 3rd mill. B.C.) - regardless of the technique used to form the vessels: coiling, drawing or building in sections. The mat impressions, visible on the bases of some pottery, indicate that such vessels were built on mats turned in the process of making the pot.   Handmade Pottery from Ancient Cyprus The exhibit includes ancient Cypriot ceramics (3rd - 2nd mill. B.C.) that are noteworthy for their intriguing shapes, their aesthetics and their superior quality. Traditional methods of making pottery by hand, especially fine ware, persisted in Cyprus long after the potter's wheel was introduced in neighboring countries and on the island itself.   Handmade Pottery from Contemporary Village Societies in Africa and Central America In Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mexico and Guatemala, ceramics created by traditional handwork shed light on ancient pottery methods. Photographs, models and vessels illuminate these modern-day analogies.   Wheel-made Pottery in Ancient Israel The technological innovation of the potter's wheel brought about a revolution in ceramics in the Chalcolithic period, but did not become widespread until the Middle Bronze Age II. On display are two types of potter's wheel, the Canaanite-Israelite and Byzantine, as well as ceramics from the Canaanite, Israelite, Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.   Wheel-made Pottery in Ancient Egypt and Greece The replication of an Egyptian 12th- dynasty (19th century BCE) wall-painting reveals pottery-making using the wheel, and serves as inspiration for a reconstruction of this wheel. Vases from the archaic and classical periods (7th- 4th century BCE) demonstrate the ancient Greek potter's skill with the wheel, his knowledge of clay, and his perfect control of the firing process. Scenes from pottery workshops depicted on some Greek vases open a window into ancient techniques.   The Use of Pottery in Daily Life Through the reconstruction of a full-size Israelite house from the monarchy period (10th-7th century BCE), the varied uses of ceramic vessels are beautifully illustrated. Based on the house excavated at Tel Qasile, which archeologists discovered on the grounds of the museum complex, the model reconstruction gives visitors a sense of both the time and the space of ancient Israel.   Pottery in the Study of Archaeology Because of the discernable changes in the shapes, styles and manufacture of ceramic vessels from one era to the next, the archaeologist uses pottery as a key tool in period classification and dating. This segment of the pavilion traces the evolution of three basic pottery vessels used in the Land of Israel – the oil lamp, cooking pot and the storage jar.   Clay and Pottery as Writing Materials In cuneiform writing, signs were created by the impression of a reed stylus on damp clay tablets, which were then dried. Among the items on display are a foundation cone and administrative documents of the 3rd-1st millennium BCE, including one letter inside its clay envelope. In addition, there are samples of early Hebrew writing on pottery of the First Temple period, among them a jar with a lamelekh seal from Lachish; a group of jar handles, impressed with a seal before firing; and ostraca (broken written potsherds) from the archive at Arad on which administrative letters were written in ink. Magical and incantation texts inscribed on clay figurines and ceramic vessels can be found in various periods. Note the Egyptian figurines with 18th-century BCE Execration Texts cursing the enemies of pharaoh and a Babylonian Jewish incantation bowl of the 9th-11th century, written in Aramaic.   Art and Cult Two 13th-century BCE outsize anthropoid clay coffins from Deir el-Balah cemetery greet the visitor to this section. These coffins are representative of Egyptian cultic custom that penetrated Canaan in this period. Further on are clay figurines and statuettes of animals and deities, votive objects as well as incense and libation vessels. Through their outstanding forms and decorations, the spiritual and artistic aspirations of their creators come to life.