Vesicular basalt lamps

Among the stone artefacts found in Fewet, vesicular basalt bowls represented peculiar finds both from settlement and funerary contexts. Their specific use as lamps was revealed by the analyses of burnt organic residues preserved in some of the lamps’ reservoirs. Those artefacts are typical of the Garamantian phase and up to now widespread only in the Southern Fezzan region, while in Wadi el-Ajal area they do not seem to be as common as in Wadi Tanezzuft. Already well attested at Aghram Nadharif, where each domestic unit had at least one vesicular basalt lamp, at Fewet they were found both in the rural compound and in the necropolis, documenting their use also as funerary goods. The investigation on the possible raw material sourcing for lamps production suggests a long-distance trade of this peculiar good from neighbouring Saharan regions. Residue analyses suggested the use of date palm oil as fuel.