3,200-Year-Old 'Brands' Found

In a surprising discovery, researchers have found that 'brands' existed 3,200 years ago in the Bronze Age. An international team led by Marta Luciani of the University of Vienna analyzed several dozen Bronze Age pottery vessels from the oasis of Qurayyah in northwestern Arabia and found that they were produced with a distinctive two-color painted design.

The pottery vessels were found to be so distinctive, appealing, and sought-after that they can be considered a 'brand'. The team, which included members from M.I.T., the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, OeAI/OeAW, TU Wien, and the University of Sydney, was able to dispel old misconceptions about the famous 'Midianite Pottery' and prove that its origin was indeed the oasis of Qurayyah.

The research was supported by the Heritage Commission of the Saudi Ministry of Culture and the results were published in the journal PLOS ONE. The discovery sheds light on how local communities in the Bronze Age were able to participate in wider networks of technological know-how shared with neighboring regions, such as the Southern Levant and Syria.

## Why it matters The discovery of these ancient 'brands' challenges the idea that branding is a modern concept. It shows that even in ancient societies, people were able to create distinctive products that were sought after by others. The fact that the pottery vessels were exported abroad also highlights the existence of trade networks in the Bronze Age.

The research also highlights the resourcefulness and inventiveness of the people living in the oasis of Qurayyah. Despite the scarcity of resources such as clay, water, and fuel, they were able to create their own ceramic repertoire and export it abroad. This discovery provides new insights into the lives of people living in ancient Arabia and their participation in wider trade networks.