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This lamp is one of the earliest found in Palestine. It is about 4,000
years old and comes from the Chalcolithic period. It is made of white clay
rich in limestone found plentifully in that region, it is pinched at four
sides forming spouts for wicks. Oil was poured into this lamp with a dipper
juglet. Traces of soot show evidence of use and there is some soil encrustation
on the inside. It contained enough oil for four wicks to be lighted at
the same time and would have been placed on a ledge against the wall or
high up on a wall to provide light for an entire room. Fish oil was used to
light such lamps. The fish oil gave such low light that four wicks were
needed.
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