Ancient “brand” Qurayyah Painted Ware QPW 4, formerly known as ‘Midianite Pottery’. Credit: Marta Luciani, Qurayyah Joint Archaeological Project

Long before modern corporations and capitalism, craftspeople may already have been producing goods with a recognizable identity that traveled far beyond their place of origin. An international team led by Marta Luciani of the University of Vienna has found evidence that distinctive painted pottery made in Northwestern Arabia about 3,200 years ago functioned in many ways like a modern brand.

The findings come from the oasis of Qurayyah, where researchers investigated the production of a distinctive two-color painted pottery. Their analysis suggests the vessels were visually recognizable, desirable, and traded widely enough to meet criteria the researchers associate with branding.

The results were published in PLOS One. The research included scientists from M.I.T., the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, OeAI/OeAW, TU Wien, and the University of Sydney, with support from the Heritage Commission of the Saudi Ministry of Culture

Translation: This tomb is for Khordad, the son of Ormazd Afrid, whose God forgave him, from Iranshahr (Iran/Persia) and from the village of Chergan in the district of Khesht; who in one year entered Rome in the hope of seeking the Lord of the Righteous and Victorious Christ.

In front of Ishtar appear the crescent of the moon god Sin and the winged sun disk of the sun god Shamash.

The relief dates to the 8th century BC, possibly to the reign of Tiglath-Pileser III.

Estatuas de Nemrut - Antiguo Reino de Comagene. Se trata de un yacimiento arqueológico especial situado en la cima del monte Nemrut, con forma de pirámide de 50 metros de altura y tres terrazas, cuyo centro alberga la tumba del rey Antíoco I de Comagene (probablemente construida en el año 62 a. C.).