Among the pottery collected and studied at the Meroitic site of Wad Ben Naga, such pieces were noted which offer diverse evidence of maintenance, reuse and reclamation of vessels or their parts. Some form of physical alteration was recognised in most of these cases. At the present, the accumulated evidence is sufficient enough to start with a comprehensive evaluation of the phenomenon. Closer scrutiny of the topic has the potential to bring a better understanding of previously elusive aspects of the utilisation of pottery by the ancient inhabitants of the site. The paper shall establish a site-specific classification for documented modes of post-production modification and reuse of pottery, describe them, and propose the interpretation of their purpose. The evidence coming from Wad Ben Naga is to be compared with similar cases of reworking and reuse known from other Meroitic sites and beyond. Two groups of such ceramics, which appeared quite regularly at the site, shall be highlighted, namely large storage vessels altered to be used as so-called vessel emplacements and sherds fashioned into the form of small disks, which may have served as lids or dishes.

Meroites recycling – post-production modification and reuse of Meroitic pottery at Wad Ben Naga