In this article, we will delve into the exciting world of ASPRO chronology, exploring its various aspects, characteristics and possible applications in everyday life. ASPRO chronology is a topic that has aroused the interest of researchers, experts and enthusiasts, due to its relevance in different areas and its ability to influence our way of thinking, feeling and acting. Along these lines, we will analyze ASPRO chronology from different perspectives, with the aim of offering a comprehensive and enriching vision that allows the reader to better understand its importance and potential. From its origins to its future projections, ASPRO chronology reveals itself as an exciting topic that arouses curiosity and invites us to reflect on its impact on today's world.
The ASPRO chronology is a nine-period dating system of the ancient Near East used by the Maison de l'Orient et de la Méditerranée for archaeological sites aged between 14,000 and 5,700 BP.
First published in 1994, ASPRO stands for the "Atlas des sites du Proche-Orient" (Atlas of Near East archaeological sites), a French publication pioneered by Francis Hours and developed by other scholars such as Olivier Aurenche.
The periods, cultures, features and date ranges of the original ASPRO chronology are shown below:
| ASPRO Period | Cultural phases | Dates |
| Period 1 | Natufian, Zarzian final | 12,000 – 10,300 BP or 12,000 – 10,200 cal. BCE |
| Period 2 | Protoneolithic, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA), Khiamian, Sultanian, Harifian | 10,300 – 9,600 BP or 10,200 – 8,800 cal. BCE |
| Period 3 | Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB, PPNB ancien) | 9,600 – 8,000 BP or 8,800 – 7,600 cal. BCE |
| Period 4 | Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB, PPNB moyen) | 8,600 – 8,000 BP or 7,600 – 6,900 cal. BCE |
| Period 5 | Dark Faced Burnished Ware (DFBW), Çatalhöyük, Umm Dabaghiyah-Sotto, Proto-Hassuna, Ubaid 0 | 8,600 – 7,600 BP or 6,900 – 6,400 cal. BCE |
| Period 6 | Hassuna, Samarra, Halaf, Ubaid 1 | 7,600 – 7,000 BP or 6,400 – 5,800 cal. BCE |
| Period 7 | Pottery Neolithic A (PNA), Halaf final, Ubaid 2 | 7,000 – 6,500 BP or 5,800 – 5,400 cal. BCE |
| Period 8 | Pottery Neolithic B (PNB), Ubaid 3 | 6,500 – 6,100 BP or 5,400 – 5,000 cal. BCE |
| Period 9 | Ubaid 4 | 6,100 – 5,700 BP or 5,000 – 4,500 cal. BCE |
In 2001, the institute revised the chronology of the first six periods based on newer carbon data and calibration curves. In Period 3 an early and late phase could be distinguished, but Periods 4 and 5 were merged. Overall they found more overlap in time between different cultural phases between different sites.
| ASPRO Period | Cultural phases | Dates BP | Dates BCE |
| Period 1 | Natufian, Zarzian final | 12,000 – 10,300 BP | 12,500 – 9,500 cal. BCE |
| Period 2 | Protoneolithic, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A (PPNA) | 10,300 – 9,600 BP | 10,500 – 8,300 cal. BCE |
| Period 3 | early Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB ancient) | 9,600 – .... BP | 9,200 – 8,300 cal. BCE |
| Period 3 | middle Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB moyen) | .... – 8,000 BP | 8,400 – 7,500 cal. BCE |
| Period 4,5 | middle to late Pre-Pottery Neolithic B (PPNB moyen, PPNC) | 8,600 – 7,600 BP | 7,600 – 6,000 cal. BCE |
| Period 6 | Hassuna, Samarra, Halaf, Ubaid 1 | 7,600 – 7,000 BP | 6,400 – 5,600 cal. BCE |