7,000-year-old clay find reveals Arabia-Mesopotamia links
At the Bahra 1 site in northern Kuwait, Polish archaeologists have discovered a clay figurine that is 7,000 years old, confirming the existence of local pottery production. This research provides new insights into the cultural exchange between Neolithic communities in Arabia and the Ubaid culture from Mesopotamia.
The Bahra 1 site, located in the Al-Subiyah desert, is one of the oldest known settlements on the Arabian Peninsula, dating back to the mid-6th millennium BCE.
Since 2009, this site has been studied by a Kuwaiti-Polish expedition operating under the auspices of the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) and the Centre for Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw (CAŚ UW).
Among the most intriguing discoveries is the finely crafted head of a clay figurine. Its distinct features, such as an elongated skull, slanted eyes, and flat nose, are characteristic of Ubaid culture figurines originating from Mesopotamia.
This type of artifact has been found for the first time in the Persian Gulf region, prompting questions about the symbolic and ritual significance of this figurine for the community residing at the Bahra 1 settlement.
Its presence raises intriguing questions about its purpose and the symbolic, or possibly ritualistic, value it held for the people of this ancient community – notes Professor Piotr Bieliński, as quoted by CAŚ UW.
Another significant achievement is the confirmation of local pottery production. So far, two types of vessels have been found at the site: those imported from Mesopotamia associated with the Ubaid culture, and the so-called Coarse Red Ware (CRW), a type of pottery identified at other locations on the Arabian Peninsula.
The oldest known pottery production site?
The discovery of an unfired clay vessel and analyses conducted under the direction of Dr. hab. Anna Smogorzewska from the Faculty of Archaeology at the UW confirmed that Bahra 1 is the oldest known pottery production site in the Gulf region.
Research on the materials used in pottery production also provided a better understanding of the natural environment around the settlement during its existence. Analyses of pottery fragments, conducted by Dr. hab. Prof. UW Aldona Mueller-Bieniek and Dr. Roman Hovsepyan, revealed the presence of plant residues.
Early analyses have revealed traces of wild plants, particularly reed, within the locally produced pottery, while cultivated plant remains, including cereals, such as barley and wheat, have been found in the imported Ubaid ware – explains Dr. Hovsepyan, quoted in a press release.
These discoveries offer crucial information for research on the cultural exchange between Neolithic Arabian communities and the Ubaid culture. They facilitate a better understanding of the interactions between these regions and the cultural influences they had on each other.
The Polish part of the expedition at Bahra 1 is headed by Professor Piotr Bieliński, and this year's season was directed by Dr. Agnieszka Pieńkowska from CAŚ UW. The Kuwaiti side is represented by Mohammad ben Redha, Secretary General of the Department of Antiquities and Museums NCCAL.
