“Culture”, Innovation and Interaction Across Southern Iran from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age (c. 6500–3000 bc)

Abstract

Southern Iran saw profound socio-economic and political transformations between 6500 and 3000 bc, which are marked by a series of innovations in ceramic production. This paper looks at the pace and nature of change in prehistoric ceramic technology and decorative style to investigate the relationships between processes of culture change, innovation and transmission. It is noted that the dynamics of culture change across the diverse cultural and physical geography of Southern Iran is marked by a complex pattern of rapidly dispersing major technological innovations followed by protracted periods, where there is evidence for regionally distinctive stylistic elaboration of vessel decoration and form. The multifaceted and variable relationships between people, material culture, technology, style and landscapes have the potential to provide insight into the dynamics of culture change.