RIYADH — A study by the Heritage Commission has uncovered the oldest known concept of a trademark in pottery, dating back around 3,600 years, at Qurayyah Oasis in northwestern Saudi Arabia.Conducted in cooperation with the University of Vienna and published in the journal PLOS One, the study found that a village in the Tabuk region specialized in producing two-colored pottery, representing an early form of a “trademark” before the emergence of its modern concept.
(Heritage Commission)
The study found that the pottery followed an organized manufacturing system, reflected in the consistency of its raw materials and production techniques.The pottery also featured a distinctive style, with recurring decorative motifs and painted patterns that gave it a recognizable visual identity.Commercial demand helped spread the pottery beyond Qurayyah Oasis, reaching the southern Levant, Egypt and the northern Arabian Peninsula.
(Heritage Commission)
According to the Heritage Commission, production peaked around 3,200 years ago during a period of production that continued into the Iron Age, while the findings demonstrated the Qurayyah Oasis community’s ability to produce and innovate.The study also traced the origin of “Qurayyah Painted Ware” to Qurayyah Oasis.According to Dr. Majed Alonazi, Director of the Underwater Cultural Heritage Department at the Heritage Commission, researchers Peter Parr and Rothenberg discovered in 1968 that “this pottery [Qurayyah pottery] was unusual and different from the pottery of the southern Levant.”
