Nabatean Terracotta Decorated Bowl

The Nabataean tribes first encroached upon Jordan and the surrounding area sometime in the 6th century BC. Thought of originally as a nomadic people they settled in the area, existing as an autonomous kingdom until the 2nd century AD, when they were finally defeated by the Romans. Nabataean pottery can roughly be grouped into two large categories; Fine ware and course ware. These two groups were then split into subcategories, including the fine ware bowls with painted decoration that exemplify the style. Fine ware Nabataean pottery, made exclusively in and around Petra, is categorised by its very thin walls (known as egg-shell pottery), its deep red colouring and painted floral patterns. Course ware remained thicker in its measurements and undecorated. Such vessels, featuring a thickness of 1-3 mm and a metallic hardness (mostly shallow open bowls) were extremely difficult to be potted on the potter’s wheel. With the Roman conquest of the area around 150 AD, Nabatean pottery production started losing its thinness and polychrome decoration, becoming cruder and simpler.