Tabuk Artefacts Reveal 3,600-Year-Old ‘Trademark’

Recent archaeological findings indicate that Qurayyah Oasis in Tabuk had a specialised system for producing two-tone pottery around 3,600 years ago. This system featured a consistent visual identity, uniform production processes, and standardised raw materials, which researchers suggest represents an early form of “branding” that predates modern branding by thousands of years.

The Saudi Heritage Commission announced a study conducted in collaboration with the University of Vienna, published in PLOS One. The project involved various foreign academic institutions and focused on investigating pottery manufacturing in the Qurayyah Oasis of northwestern Saudi Arabia, exploring production characteristics, sources, and distribution.

Thousands of Years Ago: A Visual Identity

The study identified distinctive characteristics of pottery from the Qurayyah Oasis, including a clear visual identity, uniform raw materials and manufacturing techniques, centralised production, and distribution of products beyond the production site.

Moreover, these features demonstrate a structured production system that retained distinct product characteristics, facilitating the identification and association of the pottery with its place of origin. This has prompted researchers to draw parallels with the contemporary idea of “branding.”

Maximum Production 3,200 Years Ago

Production of this kind of pottery started about 3,600 years ago, peaked at 3,200 years ago, and persisted until the end of the Iron Age, according to the study. This illustrates the long-term, continuous operation of a specialised craft in the oasis.

Besides, the Qurayyah region was not the only area where the pottery was used. Products related to this type have been discovered throughout Egypt, northern Arabia, and southern Syria, demonstrating the vast networks of trade and exchange connected to the oasis.

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Qurayyah Oasis: The Craft & Trade Hub Behind Madinah Pottery

The study determined that the Qurayyah Oasis is the probable birthplace of “Madinah pottery,” shedding light on the oasis’s crucial role in pottery production and trade within ancient northwestern Arabia. This finding enhances the understanding of the region’s historical significance and its contributions to ceramic arts.

In addition, the findings connect the origin of this type of pottery to its consistent traits, production system, and geographical distribution, showing a level of organisation and craft specialisation among the communities that lived in the region thousands of years ago.

Furthermore, the discovery of oasis products reveals the local community’s expertise in manufacturing uniform vessels and maintaining their industrial identity for trade beyond the oasis. This evidence suggests that northwestern Arabia served not only as a trade route but also as a centre for craft manufacturing, playing a significant role in regional exchange networks.

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Multinational Research Study

Researchers from the Heritage Commission, the University of Vienna, the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Sydney, and the Austrian Archaeological Institute participated in the study.

The study offers a fresh perspective on the history of Qurayyah, an oasis community that was a hub for trade, innovation, and production. Additionally, it illuminates a high degree of specialisation in pottery production, standardisation of its features, marketing, and distribution approximately 3,600 years ago.

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