In Mésopotamie , starting from the Chalcolithique, towards 6000 av. J. - C., one notes, in addition to the use of copper, the use of the irrigation in agriculture, the appearance of the seal-seals, the murals, of ceramics painted, incised or decorated, of the first sanctuaries as well as a generalized use of brick.

Between 6000 and 5000, one distinguishes the succession from three cultures of the different types.

Period of Hassuna (6500-6000)

This period bears the name of a Tel. (formed hill of ruins) close to Mosul. One finds, in craniums studied, the same Mediterranean origin present since the paleolithic superior in all the the Middle East. Found ceramics is composed of statuettes of clay and seal-seals, the oldest overdrafts until now. Obsidian tools and weapons, some ornaments of copper and lead form the unit which characterizes this period.

Period of Samarra (6200-5700)

Samarra is an archeological site located on the very spot of the current city of the same name. The ceramics of the previous period mingles here with another with much better invoice. Clear beige, this one is varied much, more harmonious too. One found these statuettes there, with lengthened cranium and the eyes known as “in coffee bean” added again, resembling those of the period of Obeid while the eyes of other statuettes are encrusted and large open, surmounted characteristics black and thick eyebrows, of bitumen, pointing out the production sumérienne, more recent.

Period of Halaf (6000-5300)

Halaf is a site located at the border turco-Syrian woman. Different from the two other preceding cultures, this one has particular features which connect it with the Anatolia. The presence of the double axe and the Bucrane , the head of bull stylized, hardly leaves doubts on this subject. This culture does not have antecedents in Mésopotamie during prehistory, contrary to both others. At the time of its maximum expansion, the culture of Halaf extended on all future the Assyrie. The peripheral zone in which one finds his pottery, where it undoubtedly was exported or copied, went from Anatolia central to the the Mediterranean, of the Syria of north in the west of the Iran. The pottery of Halaf is most beautiful by far that one found among these three cultures.

Period of Obeid

Lastly, towards -4300 is done day the Culture of Obeïd (or Ubaid).

The period of Eridu (or Erida) is known as period of Obeid 1, after the period of Obeid 2 localized in another site archeolgic located in the same geographical surface comes the period from Obeid 3 to north, and with Ur a little more in the south, is a prelude to with what will become later the civilization of Sumer.

Period of Uruk (4100-2900)

Uruk is a town of 550 hectares, south of the Iraq, whose pertaining to worship complex is that of Inanna (goddess of the war and the love, the planet Venus). The Period of Uruk is the last of these developmental stages during the Protohistoire, before do not appear the civilization of Sumer and the beginning of historical times with the appearance of the writing. The art of this period gathers the Mosaïques cones, the Sceaux-cylindres, and the Tablettes.

See too

Internal bond

• Mésopotamie