{[The Neolithic Period [continued (8)][8th November 1990]

[Redbook8:100-101][19901108:1030g]{[The Neolithic Period [continued (8)][8th November 1990]

19901108.1030

[continued]

‘Whereas in Europe urban life only began in the 2^nd millennium BC[E], and only became widespread in the first, in the Near East there were large cities as early as the 3^rd millennium BC[E],* which followed a long period of proto-urban development.’**

‘Before the colonisation of the Mesopotamian plain and the growth of irrigation-based towns and temple centres in the lowlands, the cultural focus of the Near East in the 5^th millennium lay in the villages of the arc formed by the flanks of the Taurus mountains to the north, connecting northern Syria with northern Iraq along the upper reaches of the Tigris, the Euphrates, and their tributaries.’**

‘The pottery of the Halaf culture*** was produced by similar techniques to those used in the Copper Age of southeast Europe (though fired at higher temperatures) but stylistically there is little in common between the two. The flowing curves of the Balkan products**** have no equivalent in Halaf. Instead rectilinear panels packed with lines, dots crosses and rosettes# are the basis of ornament, sometimes mixed with naturalistic motifs of animal, bird and human figures. #* Bulls’ heads and deer are common images, but always as small, repetitive elements in a closely packed design.’**

*eg Nile, and later (See [[Redbook8:28-29][19901015:1710]{Four Thousand Years BC[E]}*[15th October 1990],] 28)

** – ibid [Encyclopaedia of Visual Art, 18]

***(ie that of the preceding para[graph])

****(cf [[Redbook8:99][19901108:1030e]{[The Neolithic Period [continued (5)]] – Sacred Curves [continued (3)}[8th November 1990],] 99,

{[[Redbook8:100][19901108:1030h]{[The Neolithic Period [continued (9)][8th November 1990], 101)}

#

#*J~; G~? (T.XV)

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