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The first pottery in the Arabian Gulf: origins, production and distribution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2025

Anna Smogorzewska Open the ORCID record for Anna Smogorzewska [Opens in a new window]
Anna Smogorzewska*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Warsaw, Poland (✉ [email protected])
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Abstract

The earliest pottery vessels in the Arabian Gulf, appearing in the mid-sixth millennium BC, belong to two distinct traditions: Ubaid Ware was imported from Mesopotamia, but the origins of the Coarse Red Ware have remained obscure. Geochemical examination of pottery from Bahra 1, in modern-day Kuwait, and geological samples from the surrounding area reveal a regional origin for the clay. Further exploration of the Bahra 1 assemblage indicates that Coarse Red Ware was probably made at the site by low-skilled potters. This research provides insights into the organisation of pottery production and distribution in the Arabian Neolithic.

Keywords

Middle EastArabian NeolithicUbaid periodICP-MSprovenancepottery economics
Type
Research Article
Information
Antiquity , First View , pp. 1 - 16
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antiquity Publications Ltd

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