The Philistines' use of clay reveals that the complexities of Philistine society went beyond technological advances for military gain. Philistine pottery shows a high level of skill and also a diverse use of the medium. The Philistines used clay to make fine tableware, such as bell-shaped bowls, kraters with horizontal handles, and strainer spout jugs, as well as the more utilitarian storage jars (Trude Dothan 94; Dothan and Dothan 241). The slightly carinated bell-shape forms reflect a high level of artistic skill (Trude Dothan 98). The distinctive Philistine pottery style, Philistine bichrome, also shows much more usage of color and elaborate decoration than typical Israelite pottery ware of the period. Bichrome ware, for instance, exhibits black and red painted on a white-slipped background (Trude Dothan 94). Decorations include pairs of spirals that are separated by triglyphs of vertical and wiggly lines, as well as birds, fish, lotuses, and triangular shapes (Trude Dothan 98, 198, 203). In contrast to the elaborate designs found on Philistine pottery, the Israelites made coarse, unpainted pottery, such as large storage jars and cooking pots (Stagar 31; Mazar 346). (Photo: Philistine bichrome, from Dothan and Dothan, plate 5)

Philistine pottery also attests to the influences of many more diverse cultures than Israelite pottery. For instance, the motifs of a bird with outspread wings and a turned-back head, as well as the usage of spiral shapes and fish reflect influence from the Mycenaean world (Trude Dothan 198-199, 203). The lotus decoration and triangles, which appear to be a geometrized lotus pattern, reflect Egyptian influence, and the use of a date palm decoration reflects Canaanite influences (Trude Dothan 215). It is readily apparent, therefore, that the Philistines not only exhibited greater skill in clay-working, but also that the Philistines had more contact with other cultures around the Mediterranean.