‘Pigeon pots’ from Tell el-Retaba

The paper describes ‘pigeon pots’ found at the site of Tell el-Retaba. The known examples from Egypt are attested at least since the Third Intermediate Period. Their usage is confirmed also in later periods until the Roman Period. They can be even compared to vessels from modern times. The examples from Tell el-Retaba come in most cases from the Third Intermediate Period settlement structures. The paper tries to present the time and area of their occurrence, and to answer the question whether their commonly used name is related to their actual use.