The very oldest pottery of Syria

A few years ago we proudly announced the find of the oldest pottery of Syria known so far and maybe even of the entire Near East. Recently, however, we discovered pottery that was older still, in and around houses dating from 6900-6800 BC.

Pottery must have been extremely rare in those days. During the fieldwork we would have collected no more than a handful of sherds after a hard day’s work. This in contrast with the later occupation layers which yielded cartloads of pottery every day.

We have not found pots that are intact as yet, but perhaps this will change once we start excavating the very early occupation layers on a larger scale. So far we shall have to make do with sherds. Insignificant sherds? Certainly not, considering the fact that this pottery is almost 9000 years old and that it stands at the cradle of pottery production in the Near East to this day.

The earliest pottery of Tell Sabi Abyad is simple in shape, mineral-tempered, polished on the exterior and – very remarkable – even painted. This ware is unique and has not been found at any other site in the Near East so far.

The painted pottery seems to have existed for a relatively short period of time only. It was then replaced by simple, undecorated and coarse-looking pottery that remained in use for centuries. It is only around 6200 BC that painting the pottery came into fashion again.

If you want to know more about the oldest pottery of Syria, go to: pottery 2005.