Further Investigations as to the Relationship of Samarran and Ubaid Ceramic Assemblages

Blackham, Mark

doi:10.2307/4200416

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Based on evidence from basal Tell es-Sawwan, she also suggests that classic Samarra directly derived from Proto-Hassuna and then developed as a distinct entity although sharing similarities with adjacent cultures (Oates 2013). This idea is in agreement with an analysis of fabric and paint compositions of sherds from Oueili, which shows that Samarran and Ubaid 0 wares were similar and that they might have been stylistic variants of a common ceramic tradition although both locally produced (Blackham 1996: 13) 5 . Moreover, at Chogha Mami similarities among fabrics and paints of the Samarran, CMT, and Ubaid wares suggest a single locale for their production (Oates 1984).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

“…More recently, however, she has suggested that CMT is equivalent to late Samarran, indicating a transition from Samarran to Ubaid 0 (Oates 2013: 411). Thus, owing to the fact that ceramics of these two periods are stylistically rather indistinguishable, their chronological position is still ambiguous (Blackham 1996; Lebeau 1985; also see discussion below). Nevertheless, we may divide the Samarran phenomenon into two sub-phases: early/classic and late/CMT phases.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Consideration of Eastward Spread of the Samarran Phenomenon in the Light of New Evidence Along the Zagros Piedmont

Darabi¹

2020

Iraq

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The Samarran phenomenon has been under discussion since the early 20th century. Over the past several decades, increasing evidence has indicated that it was geographically distributed in a very large area across the Near East. In this regard, the eastward spread of the Samarran phenomenon across the Iranian frontier was little known, because related finds had mostly been recovered in the 1960–70s. This article highlights the discovery of new evidence in the transitional zone that connects the Zagros highlands with the Mesopotamian lowlands. During recent surveys in the plains of Mehran, Meimak, Soumar and Sarpol-e Zahab, a number of sites were found. They yielded ceramics identical with those already reported from nearby late Samarran sites such as Chogha Mami, Songor A and Rihan I. Chronologically, surface materials indicate that these newly found Iranian sites should belong to the late phase of Samarran period, coinciding with the so-called Chogha Mami Transitional (CMT). As seen from the natural setting of the sites along streams, and due to the predominance of nomadic herders in this transitional zone, we may assume that transhumant herders played a role in the eastward spread of the late Samarran phenomenon via the river valleys and that the site's inhabitants might have been familiar with a primitive irrigation system. Furthermore, it is speculated that the cold dry climatic event of 8.2 kya might have resulted in an increased intensity of population in the lowlands. Nevertheless, the subsequent climatic optimum appears to have paved the way for the eastward spread of late Samarran/CMT elements. Regardless of what was the major trigger of such an expansion, however, intensive economic interactions of societies probably played a role in the very early sixth millennium B.C., when natural raw materials such as bitumen were imported from western/southwestern Iran to central/southern Mesopotamia.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 86%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%