Oases in the desert of Arabia created 'brands' in the Bronze Age
Did brands exist before modern society, in noncapitalist economies? An international team led by Marta Luciani of the University of Vienna has made unexpected discoveries about Bronze Age trade: Yes, brands did indeed exist 3,200 years ago. Findings from the oasis of Qurayyah in northwestern Arabia offer unprecedented insights into the production of two-color painted pottery.
In the arid landscape of Bahrain, researchers have discovered evidence that suggests ancient trade brands existed in non-capitalist economies 3,200 years ago. The oasis of Qurayyah in northwestern Arabia became renowned for its distinctive two-color painted pottery, which scholars now consider a brand due to its visual identity, material consistency, technological continuity, and cultural reputation.
The international team of archaeologists, led by Marta Luciani of the University of Vienna, analyzed pottery vessels from the oasis and demonstrated that the pottery's origin was indeed Qurayyah. This finding challenges previous misconceptions about the Midianite Pottery and sheds light on how local communities in desert oases were resourceful and inventive, participating in wider networks of technological know-how across regions like the Southern Levant and Syria.
The research also highlights the economic mechanisms mediating producer-consumer relationships in ancient times, offering insights into the relationship between humans and natural resources in climatically extreme regions.
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