Ubaid period

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Ubaid period

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Prehistoric cultural period in Mesopotamia (c. 6500–3800 BC) marked by early settlements.

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Origins & Early Life

The Ubaid period (c. 6500–3800 BC) is a prehistoric period of Mesopotamia. The name derives from Tell al-'Ubaid where the earliest large excavation of Ubaid period material was conducted initially by Henry Hall in 1919, Leonard Woolley in 1922–1923, and later by Pinhas Delougaz in 1937. Excavations continue to the present day. In Southern Mesopotamia, this period marks the earliest known settlements on the alluvial plain, although evidence of earlier habitation has likely been obscured under the alluvium. In the south the Ubaid period spans from about 5500 to 3800 BC, when it is succeeded by the Uruk period.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In Northern Mesopotamia the period runs only from about 5300 to 4300 BC. It is preceded by the Halaf period and the Halaf-Ubaid Transitional period, and succeeded by the Late Chalcolithic period. The excavators of Eridu and Tell al-'Ubaid found Ubaid pottery for the first time in the 1910–1920s. In 1930, the attendees at a conference in Baghdad defined the concept of an "Ubaid pottery style". The characteristic pottery of this style was a black-on-buff painted ware.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

This conference also defined the Eridu and Hajji Muhammed styles. Scholars at this conference mistakenly thought that these pottery styles were so different that "[...] they could not have developed out of the old, as is the case with the Uruk ware after the al-'Ubaid ware [...]". For many attendants of the conference, "this sequence based largely on pottery represented a series of different 'ethnic elements' in the occupation of southern Mesopotamia." These ideas about the nature of the Ubaid style phenomenon did not last. The term "Ubaid" is still used, but its meaning has changed over time. Joan Oates demonstrated in 1960 that the Eridu and Hajji Muhammed styles were not distinct at all.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1910: 1910 Milestone — The excavators of Eridu and Tell al-'Ubaid found Ubaid pottery for the first time in the 1910–1920s.
2. 1919: 1919 Milestone — The name derives from Tell al-'Ubaid where the earliest large excavation of Ubaid period material was conducted initially by Henry Hall in 1919, Leonard Woolley in 1922–1923, and later by Pinhas Delougaz in 1937.
3. 1930: 1930 Milestone — In 1930, the attendees at a conference in Baghdad defined the concept of an "Ubaid pottery style".
4. 1960: 1960 Milestone — Joan Oates demonstrated in 1960 that the Eridu and Hajji Muhammed styles were not distinct at all.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ubaid period

True or False: “The Ubaid culture was a monolithic cultural phenomenon across all of Mesopotamia during its time.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): Archaeological evidence shows considerable regional variation, indicating that the Ubaid was not a single, uniform culture throughout space and time.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ubaid period