Revealing invisible stews: new results of organic residue analyses of Beveled Rim Bowls from the Late Chalcolithic site of Shakhi Kora, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Beveled Rim Bowls (BRBs) are the most iconic and well-known vessel type of ancient Southwest Asia. Roughly carelessly produced, these conical bowls attested in their thousands at 4th millennium BCE sites from southern Iraq Persian Gulf to highlands eastern Turkey Iran. Questions regarding function relationship with emergent state institutions have stood centre nearly a century debates about nature early Mesopotamian urbanism so-called Uruk Expansion. In this paper we present results organic residue analyses 10 BRBs site Shakhi Kora Sirwan/Upper Diyala River Valley Kurdistan Region north-east Iraq. Our analytical challenge traditional interpretations that see as containers cereal-based rations bread moulds. The presence meat- potentially also dairy-based foods vessels lends support multi-purpose explanations points local processes appropriation meaning function.