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COURTESY MUZA-ERETZ ISRAEL MUSEUM, PHOTO L. PADRUL-KWITKOWSKI

FAVISSA FINDS. When cultic objects were decommissioned in the ancient Near East, they usually were respectfully buried at the site. One such depository pit (favissa) in the courtyard of the temple at Tell Qasile contained unusual libation vessels from the first half of the 11th century. This lion-shaped cup with a handle—a Canaanite form decorated in Philistine style—would have served a ritual function.