Ancient clay figurine discovery unveils Arabian-Mesopotamian ties
At the Bahra 1 site in northern Kuwait, Polish archaeologists have discovered a clay figurine that is 7,000 years old and confirmed the existence of local pottery production. This research sheds new light on the cultural exchange between Neolithic communities of 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, dated 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).
One of the most fascinating discoveries is the precisely crafted head of a clay figurine. Its distinct features, such as the elongated skull, slanted eyes, and flat nose, are typical of the Ubaid culture figurines originating from Mesopotamia.
This type of artifact has been found for the first time in the Persian Gulf region, raising questions about the symbolic and ritual significance of this figurine for the community inhabiting 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, 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 known from 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. Anna Smogorzewska from the Faculty of Archaeology of 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 allowed for a better understanding of the natural environment around the settlement during its existence. Analyses of pottery fragments, conducted by Dr. 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 provide crucial information for research on the cultural exchange between Neolithic Arabian communities and the Ubaid culture. They enable a better understanding of the interactions between these regions and the influences these cultures had on each other.
The Polish part of the expedition at the Bahra 1 site is led by Professor Piotr Bieliński, and this year's season was conducted under the direction of 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.
