Ceramic technology at Wadi Fidan 61, an early Pottery Neolithic site (ca. 6500 B.C.E.) in the Faynan region of southern Jordan

• Wadi Fidan 61 revealed some of the earliest pottery in Faynan, southern Jordan. Compositional analysis provides evidence six distinct clay recipes. Pottery was manufactured from raw materials available within 5 km site. diversity may reflect collection across a forager-farmer taskscape. The Faynan region Jordan became center industrial-scale metallurgical production during Bronze and Iron Ages. However, socio-economic developments Neolithic period (ca. 6500-5500 B.C.E.) that helped set stage for rise complex copper-producing societies are not well-understood. In this paper, we focus on ceramic technology at early site western part region. composition 38 sherds is characterized using an analytical approach integrates petrography, instrumental geochemistry Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Results indicate recipes suggest use different deposits tempering locations ca. Implications compositionally diverse assemblage considered, possibly linking initial phase with kind foraging-farming economy.