Amazing Discovery at Karahan Tepe: Pottery from the Pre-Pottery Neolithic?

Karahan Tepe, one of the most significant archaeological sites in the world, has surprised researchers with a groundbreaking discovery: pottery fragments dating back to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN) period. The term “pre-pottery” suggests that humans did not yet possess pottery-making techniques during this time. So, what does the discovery of pottery at Karahan Tepe mean, and does it challenge the definition of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic?

Understanding the Pre-Pottery Neolithic Period

The term “Pre-Pottery Neolithic” was coined in the 1950s when the renowned archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon excavated the site of Jericho. She divided this period into phases: Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) and B (PPNB), with later researchers adding a third phase, Pre-Pottery Neolithic C (PPNC). This period, beginning around 12,000 years ago, marked the advent of early agriculture, with humans settling in fixed communities but not yet producing pottery.

The Pre-Pottery Neolithic period represents a pivotal phase in human history. During this time, early communities became increasingly sedentary, producing food to support sustained settlement, with evidence of monumental stone architecture and symbolic representations across large regions of the Near East.

The Discovery of Pottery at Karahan Tepe

In recent years, small pottery vessels unearthed at Karahan Tepe have astonished archaeologists. According to Dr. Nesrin Caner Karaoglu, head of the Tas Tepeler Project, these pottery pieces are dated to the late 10th millennium BCE, specifically to the later part of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic C period. This discovery challenges the accepted understanding of the PPN period, which has traditionally been defined by the absence of pottery.

The pottery shards were found in layers of soil that also contained stone fragments and other archaeological materials, suggesting that pottery-making technology was available, albeit in a limited form. This pottery likely served special functions rather than everyday household uses, given its rare occurrence.

Society in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic: Agriculture and Settlement

The Pre-Pottery Neolithic period has long been seen as a crucial stage in human societal development. It is during this time that communities across the Near East began to experiment with early forms of agriculture. However, what is intriguing about Karahan Tepe is the lack of evidence for agriculture; only wild varieties of cereals and plants were found, and the animal remains all belong to wild species.

This absence of agriculture at Karahan Tepe raises questions about the defining characteristics of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic. Is agriculture essential to the identification of this period? Rather than relying solely on pottery or farming, the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period seems to reflect a time when humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled communities with organized resource management.

Stages of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic

Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA)PPNA spans roughly from 12,000 to 10,700 years ago. This is the first period of permanent settlement in the Fertile Crescent, where early communities began experimenting with the cultivation of wild cereals. People started constructing storage buildings for food, signaling a shift from a mobile hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more stable, resource-based one.
Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB)Lasting from approximately 10,700 to 8,500 years ago, PPNB saw population centers grow in size and rectangular architecture emerge. Lime plaster was widely used, and animal husbandry and plant cultivation became more common. Ritual practices also evolved, with human skulls becoming central in iconography, reflecting a greater focus on human rather than animal symbols.
Pre-Pottery Neolithic C (PPNC)Often considered the final stage of the Pre-Pottery Neolithic B, PPNC marks the transition from hunting and gathering to fully agricultural societies. Communities adapted to new technologies, and the domestication of plants and animals began to take root. Although referred to as “Pre-Pottery,” evidence suggests that pottery-making skills were developing, though pottery was still not in widespread use.

The Significance of Pottery Found at Karahan Tepe

The discovery of pottery at Karahan Tepe presents a significant challenge to the concept of the “Pre-Pottery” Neolithic. Traditionally, this term has implied the absence of pottery. Yet, the presence of small pottery vessels at Karahan Tepe suggests that pottery-making skills may have existed in specific communities, likely for ceremonial or special uses, rather than widespread daily usage.

Before the introduction of pottery, stone and lime plaster vessels were common. In the Near East, a pottery precursor known as “white ware” appeared around the 9th millennium BCE. This type of vessel, made from limestone plaster, laid the foundation for the later development of ceramic pottery.

The Importance of Karahan Tepe in Archaeological Research

Karahan Tepe has become one of the most valuable archaeological sites for understanding the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period. Findings from this site not only provide insight into the social, religious, and technological aspects of early human communities but also challenge longstanding assumptions about the PPN period. The presence of pottery, even in limited forms, suggests that Neolithic humans possessed more sophisticated craft skills than previously thought.

Conclusion

The discovery of pottery at Karahan Tepe marks a critical moment in archaeological research, indicating that the Pre-Pottery Neolithic period may not have been entirely “without pottery.” This means that terms and definitions for this period might need reconsideration to more accurately reflect the complexity and diversity of human development during this transitional phase. Karahan Tepe and similar sites will continue to offer surprising insights, helping us better understand the early stages of human civilization.