The three Tartaria tablets, which date to around 5300 BCE, bear incised symbols, the Vinca signs, which have been the subject of considerable controversy among archaeologists, some of whom claim that the symbols represent the earliest known form of writing in the world.

Known since the late nineteenth century excavation at the Neolithic site of Turdas (in Romanian), Tordos (in Hungarian) in Transylvania, by Zsófia Torma, they will be found in 1961 at about thirty kilometers (nineteen miles) from the well-known site of Alba Iulia.

Nicolae Vlassa, an archaeologist at the Cluj Museum, unearthed three inscribed but unbaked clay tablets, together with twenty-six clay and stone figurines and a shell bracelet, accompanied by the burnt, broken, and disarticulated bones of an adult male.

Two of the tablets are rectangular and the third is round.

They are all small, the round one being only six centimeters (two and a half inches) across, and two—one round and one rectangular—have holes drilled through them.

Vlassa baked the originally unbaked clay tablets to preserve them.

Because of this, direct dating of the tablets themselves through thermoluminescence is not possible.

All three have symbols inscribed only on one face.

Similar motifs have been found on pots excavated at Vinca in Serbia and a number of other locations in the southern Balkans.

The unpierced rectangular tablet depicts a horned animal, another figure, and a branch or tree.

The others have a variety of mainly abstract symbols.

The purpose of the burial is unclear, but it has been suggested that the body was that of a shaman or spirit-medium.

The tablets are generally believed to have belonged to the Vinca-Turdas culture, which at the time was believed by Serbian and Romanian archaeologists to have originated around 2700 BCE.

Vlassa interpreted the Tartaria tablets as a hunting scene and the other two with signs as a kind of primitive writing similar to the early pictograms of the Sumerians.

The discovery caused great interest in the archaeological world as it predated the first Minoan writing, the oldest known writing in Europe.

The Middle East (5373–5230 BCE): Ubaid Culture and Pottery Innovation

Emergence of the Ubaid 1 (Eridu) Culture

Between 5373 and 5230 BCE, the Ubaid 1 period, also known as the Eridu phase (5300–4700 BCE), emerged prominently in the extreme south of present-day Iraq, along the then-shores of the Persian Gulf. This period maintained clear cultural links to the northern Samarra culture and marked the establishment of the first permanent settlements south of the five-inch rainfall isohyet.

Agricultural Innovations in Arid Conditions

The inhabitants of the Ubaid 1 phase pioneered the cultivation of grain crops under extreme arid conditions, demonstrating remarkable agricultural adaptation and innovation. Their success in growing grains despite challenging environmental conditions significantly contributed to the sustainable growth of these early settlements.

Advances in Pottery Manufacture

By 5300 BCE, Mesopotamian communities had begun utilizing clay containing the metallic element aluminum to produce high-quality pottery. This advancement in pottery manufacturing not only enhanced the durability and functionality of ceramic vessels but also played a critical role in the daily lives and trade networks of the Ubaid people.

Cultural Continuity and Expansion

The Ubaid 1 culture set the stage for broader cultural continuity and expansion across southern Mesopotamia. This phase laid foundational elements for subsequent urban and economic developments, directly influencing the growth and complexity of later Mesopotamian civilizations.

This period highlights significant progress in adapting agriculture to challenging environmental conditions and achieving advancements in ceramic technology, crucially shaping the trajectory of early urban development in the ancient Middle East.

Ubaid 1, sometimes called Eridu (5300–4700 BCE), a phase limited to the extreme south of Iraq, on what is at this time the shores of the Persian Gulf, shows clear connection to the Samarra culture to the north and sees the establishment of the first permanent settlement south of the five-inch rainfall isohyet.

These people pioneer the growing of grains in the extreme conditions of aridity.

Clays containing the metallic element aluminum are used in Mesopotamia by 5300 BCE to manufacture high-quality pottery.

Shell middens are found in coastal zones all over the world.

Consisting mostly of mollusk shells, they are interpreted as being the waste products of meals eaten by nomadic groups or hunting parties.

Some are small examples relating to meals had by a handful of individuals, others are many meters in length and width and represent centuries of shell deposition.

In Brazil, they are known as sambaquis, having been created over a long period beginning in the sixth millennium BCE.

Fossil records found in Minas Gerais show evidence that the area now called Brazil has been inhabited for at least eight thousand years by indigenous people.

China’s Xinle culture, found primarily around the lower Liao River on the Liaodong Peninsula in Liaoning, begins around 5200.

The culture shows evidence of millet cultivation and pig domestication.

Recovered artifacts include deep-bellied pots with impressed rope patterns, microliths, polished stone tools, chipped stone tools, carbonized particles, and wooden carved items.

The Middle East (5229–5086 BCE): Continued Development and Cultural Expansion

Strengthening of Ubaid Culture

Between 5229 and 5086 BCE, the Ubaid culture continued to strengthen and expand throughout southern Mesopotamia. Settlements became increasingly well-established and organized, reflecting improved social cohesion and community planning. These developments contributed significantly to the consolidation of cultural traditions and practices.

Expansion of Agricultural Techniques

During this period, agricultural techniques became more refined and sophisticated, further enabling communities to thrive despite the region’s harsh environmental conditions. Enhanced irrigation methods supported larger-scale farming, allowing the expansion of grain production and improved yields, crucial for sustaining growing populations.

Pottery and Technological Refinements

Pottery manufacture continued to evolve, with artisans producing increasingly refined and functional ceramic vessels. These pottery items, crafted from clays rich in aluminum, not only served daily domestic needs but also became important trade commodities, facilitating broader economic interactions and cultural exchanges.

Societal Complexity and Urbanization

Communities during this era demonstrated greater societal complexity and increasing urbanization. Improved infrastructure, including more organized dwellings and communal structures, reflected advancements in urban planning and social stratification. These developments set the groundwork for subsequent complex urban societies and city-states.

This age highlights continued cultural consolidation, agricultural advancements, technological refinement, and growing social complexity, establishing crucial foundations for future civilizations in the ancient Middle East.

Objects used for a game similar to bowling are placed in the tomb of a young Egyptian boy around 5200.

Ghar Dalam (Maltese: "Cave of Darkness") is a prehistorical cul de sac located on the outskirts of Birzebbuga, Malta containing the bone remains of animals that were stranded and subsequently became extinct on Malta at the end of the Ice age.

It has lent its name to the Ghar Dalam phase in Maltese prehistory.

Dwarf elephant, hippopotamus, deer, and bear bone deposits found there are of a different age; the hippopotamuses became extinct about one hundred and eighty thousand years ago, while the deer species became extinct much later, about eighteen thousand years ago.

It is also here that the earliest evidence of human settlement on Malta, some seven thousand four hundred years ago, was discovered.

Human inhabitation and settlements in Malta begin in 5200 BCE.

These first Neolithic people probably arrived from the Agrigento region of Sicily (about one hundred kilometers/sixty miles north), and are mainly farming and fishing communities, with some evidence of hunting activities.

They apparently live in caves and open dwellings.

Maize begins to become a staple for Mesoamerican civilizations from 5200 BCE, beginning with that of the Tehuacán Valley in Mexico.

(Although primitive, this maize is unquestionably domesticated, as no wild forms of maize have been found).