Pouch from Israel

[Martin Moser]

No. 1 of the three pouches found in the Cave of letters in the 1960s by Y. Yadin. Interstingly it does not have any means of closing it fast, nor any kind of handle or carrying strap. Coloring (except for the sewing thread of which there is no mentioning in the text) follows the original find, i.e. red drop-shaped application on front and red sidewalls with brown body. Reference for this is Yadin, Yigael. The Finds from the Bar Kokhba Period in the Cave of Letters. Jerusalem, Israel Exploration Society, 1963.

[LUCIUS ALFENUS AVITIANUS]

Nice! Another time!

The red aplication will be for post there a seal box? There follows the tipical pattern of some of that boxes. So, the pouch could be a letter-container, and then it could be closed by a thread knotted, and the knott inside the seal box... :roll:

[Robert Vermaat]

You're the bag-master! Any idea as to the dating?

[Martin Moser]

Any idea as to the dating?

Ah, sorry forgot to mention that. First half of 2nd cent. AD. When found, it contained a bunch of legal documents from a Jewish woman called Babata, which were dated in the 120/30s AD. The last one is from Aug. 19, 132. The bag was deposited in the cave at the end of the 2nd Jewish revolt 132-135 AD.

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

Martin,Your skill at leatherworking is truly masterful.
Once again,beautiful work.

[Peroni]

Nice!

Martin, I think you have more bags and purses than my wife!

[M. Demetrius]

Closure? I'll bet the velcrus dots have fallen off the original. Just like a modern wallet, eh?

Very good stitching work, and a laudus for ya, Martin!

[Primvs Pavlvs]

Martin once again you amaze me!

But I think this is really a matzah ball bag.

[Flavius Promotus]

Looks great - laudes!

Bag-man's return :wink:

[Magnus]

Seems like a rather useless design. No fastner, no handle. Nice reconstruction though Martin.

[Marcus Mummius]

Seems like a rather useless design. No fastner, no handle. Nice reconstruction though Martin.

Could be handy to put in your fascia ventralis though... :?

[Mark Headlee]

Martin,

Laudes to you my mentor..you never fail to amaze me with your scholarship and craftsmanship....

[Chuck Russell]

wow nice,

hey paulus, doesnt your have have a purse like that? i think thats were she stores your nuts

martin, once again you shine in the leather world my friend!

[Martin Moser]

Seems like a rather useless design. No fastner, no handle.

Well, at least it's open at one end, so you can put something into it ;-) )

Actually I had the same thought as Jef about using it to carry something by sticking it into your sash or belt.

[Carlton Bach]

Seems like a rather useless design. No fastner, no handle. Nice reconstruction though Martin.

I've been using a pouch of this design for a while now, and it works pretty well. You could stick it through a sash, though it is rather lsrge for that. But if you tie a string around it, it works just fine. Obviously, it isn't a carrying bag (the En Gedi finds include a large drawstring pouch that answers that description much better). My guess is that it is more of a storage container for documents or other valuable items that can be kept and transported in it safely.