[nomaxim]

"With the tall legs like that it would seem to me that possibly they would set it over a small flame or candle to warm whatever the contents were. [shrug]"

Perhaps used to heat olive oil for a backrub? Also a single tapering base design was rather expensive, at that time.

"My guess would be that is was brought by a European family that settled there."

Let's figure out what it is before we try to guess how it got where it was.?

"I must say the sample hole is exceptionally shoddy, a sign of the times I guess, when larger samples were needed before digital spectroscopy and so on, but it has effectively ruined any functionality for the piece..."

Concur, a much better place would have been just below the point where the handle connets to the bowl. Less visable and would not destroy function.

Two questions and a request;
Questions:
1. How do you know the history of the find? Was any testing done by a lab?

2. As stated above, who was the moron that drilled that hole? They may well have ruined that item!

Request:
Can you get better pics of the head? Close ups of the front and side would be most useful. It may look like a cat, however I have seen something like that before. I'm thinking it may be a bull with stylized horns? Look at the muzzle.

"Mediterranean origins or perhaps North African. "
U-96, let's rule North Afican out for now, as that would make the item either from Libya or Carthage! Not much exists from Carthage as the Romans razed it, in like the 3rd cen. BC.
Or where you thinking Egypt?