Doctoral degree for Olivier Nieuwenhuyse

On March 15, 2006 Olivier Nieuwenhuyse defended his thesis at Leiden University, titled Plain and Painted Pottery – The Rise of Late Neolithic Ceramic Styles on the Syrian and Mesopotamian Plains. In his book Nieuwenhuyse discusses the origins of Halaf pottery in the ancient Near East. The Halaf period (5900-5300 BC) is known for the technological sophistication and the amazingly high artistic standard of its pottery. Where did the Halaf culture spring from? The Dutch excavations at Tell Sabi Abyad in northern Syria offer an answer for the first time.

At Tell Sabi Abyad the Halaf culture springs from all kinds of technological and stylistic innovations in the pottery. Around 6150 BC a new type of ware develops – Fine Ware – which is then quick to grow in popularity. The new firing technique that allowed the potters to add a black painted decoration to a light surface was a revolutionary invention. While the Fine Ware pottery rapidly increased in quantity, the potters developed more and more complex shapes and decorations. Around 5900 BC this finally resulted in the beautiful, superior-quality Early Halaf pottery.

The excavations at Tell Sabi Abyad force archaeologists to thoroughly reconsider their interpretations concerning the rise of the Halaf culture. Earlier models assumed prehistoric migrations of peoples or abrupt changes in social organization. In their models pottery was a passive reflection of social identity – pots equal people. Now, however, we may follow the gradual development of the Halaf pottery within one prehistoric community. Nieuwenhuyse relates the developments in the pottery to the social competition of rivalling Late Neolithic societies: who had the finest pottery? The beautiful pottery could have played an important role especially in feasting. Around 6000 BC pictures of people feasting and dancing show on the pottery, and the decorated bowls from the Halaf period appear to have been used mainly for drinking. Feasts gave local prehistoric groups a shared identity while they were at the same time the context for social competition.