Geometrıc Ornamentatıon in Chalcolıthıc Pottery From Nakhchıvan

Geometric patterns on Chalcolithic ceramics from the Nakhchivan region are a stable visual component of local material culture. Despite a limited range of motifs, these patterns show strong compositional regularity, technical consistency, and typological continuity. Typological analysis indicates that the decorative elements form a coherent visual system grounded in standardised forms and production practices. From a cognitive perspective, this stability may be linked to repetitive gestures and motor routines in ceramic manufacture, supporting the stabilization of form and visual order. Simple, rhythmic geometric configurations further offer advantages for motor control and attentional organisation. Regional comparisons suggest that Nakhchivan’s ceramic ornamentation developed in close interaction with the Urmia basin and the wider Near Eastern cultural sphere. Painted assemblages from Nakhchivan Tepe show affinities with the Dalma Tepe tradition, while material from Bülövqaya indicates connections with Halaf and Ubaid contexts. Overall, Chalcolithic ceramic ornamentation in Nakhchivan reflects processes shaped by both local continuity and interregional interaction.