2022 Volume 57 Pages 113-124
The Shahrizor Plain (Iraqi Kurdistan) is located in the most eastern distribution of Halaf pottery in the Late Neolithic period. Re-excavations at Tell Begum in 2013 demonstrated that Halaf pottery in this plain had unique local attributes distinguished from those of “classic” Halaf pottery found in Upper Mesopotamia. This paper presents the radiocarbon dates of the Halaf layer at Tell Begum and compares these dates and the ceramic styles with those of neighbouring Halaf sites, to consider the expansion and influence of Halaf pottery to the east. The typological observations provided the recognition of a regional variant of Halaf pottery distributed in the Shahrizor Plain and the Pshdar Plain, which could be called the “east end” variant. Radiocarbon dating of Tell Begum and available dates of this variant fall between 5600 and 5200 cal BC, which overlaps with the Halaf-Ubaid Transitional period in Upper Mesopotamia. However, this “east end” variant of Halaf pottery demonstrates similarities in decoration with ware groups of pottery further east, such as White on Black Ware and J Ware in the Mahidasht Plain, rather than indications of the transition to Ubaid style. These facts suggest that this variant appeared because of the latest expansion of the Halaf horizon along with localising transformation and influenced the appearance of J Ware in the east.
