This 3,000-Year-Old Pottery May Have Been One of History's First Brands
Discover how potters in the walled oasis of Qurayyah exported what may have been some of history's earliest “branded” goods across the Levant.
A 3,000-year-old type of pottery known as Midianite Pottery may have been one of the earliest examples of branding, according to archaeologists from the University of Vienna. The painted pottery, originating from the kilns of Qurayyah in Saudi Arabia, was highly sought after across Arabia and the Levant during the Middle and Later Bronze Age.
Researchers identified eight criteria to determine if a product can be considered an ancient brand, including a clear visual identity, consistency in materials, centralized production, technological continuity, commercial intentions, cultural reputation, export market, and attempts at local imitation. The findings suggest that the pottery became more standardized and established by the Late Bronze Age, with the product being exported to communities as far as Jordan and Israel.
This discovery sheds light on how ancient cultures used branding to differentiate their goods and establish a reputation, even in resource-scarce desert environments.
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