The oldest pottery of Syria!

Research at Tell Sabi Abyad and in a number of find spots in the neighbourhood had already pointed to the presence of the oldest pottery. So far, however, we had to be content with sherds from often very poor contexts. We assumed that the occupational layers with the oldest pottery were buried very deeply under deposits several metres thick from a much younger period and therefore virtually inaccessible to us.

Therefore we were immensely surprised in the autumn of 2003 when large-scale excavations were undertaken on the north-west side of Tell Sabi Abyad, an area so far barely investigated. Immediately below the surface of the mound we came upon the remains of dwellings containing very simple pottery. Indeed the pottery we had been looking for for so long! The vessels are made by hand and relatively coarse in nature. We have found bowls and large pots exclusively. Very characteristic are the pots with handles.

The vessels date from around 6600-6500 BC. It is the oldest pottery of Syria known so far. However, under the remains of the dwellings now excavated there appear to be even older occupational layers with even older pottery waiting for us… A remarkable find, which we will deal with in our next season of excavation.

The unique pottery of Tell Sabi Abyad has been professionally restored recently by Renske Dooijes, restorer for the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, who came over to Syria specially for this. Soon the jars will be displayed in one of Syria’s museums.

If you want to know more about the 2003 excavations at Tell Sabi Abyad, please use the following link: excavation in 2003.

Do you want to know more about the oldest pottery? Go to: prehistoric pottery