Age. It is usually stated that this trade began during the Jamdat Nasr period, on
account of the presence of distinctive Jamdat Nasr-style pottery in tombs of the Hafit
period (conventionally c. 3100 – 2700 BC), coupled with copper objects found in tombs
and settlements of that date (Potts 1986 b: 133 , 1990 : 90 ; Cleuziou and Méry 2002 b:
282 – 283 ). So far there is no archaeometrical evidence that Jamdat Nasr/ED I–II pottery
was copied locally in the Oman Peninsula (Cleuziou and Méry 2002 b: 283 ). Potts has
pointed out that many of the vessels may in fact be as late as the ED II or even the ED
III period, potentially extending the Hafit horizon well into the second quarter of the
–– Robert Carter ––Figure 30.1Map showing geographical areas discussed in the text