The article presents a brief overview of the state of research of Late Neolithic Halaf archaeological culture. More than a century has passed since the beginning of its study. During this time span, a large amount of information has been collected, which allows us to characterize many of the culture’s features. Nowadays, we have objective information about the area of its distribution, that is placed in the rain-fed agriculture zone of Fertile Crescent of Northern Mesopotamia. Oikumene of Halaf culture is marked by trade contacts, widespread from Transcaucasia in the North to alluvial lowlands of Southern Mesopotamia, and from Zagros Mountains in the East to Levantine coast on the West. We know that Halaf culture economic foundation was based on dry-farming agriculture, as well we have complete information about variability of its material culture. We also have an idea of some elements of the social organization and spiritual life of its bearers. At the same time, some issues that were raised in the 1930s remain debatable. One of such question is the determination of the center of this culture’s origin. The present article proposes a set of attributes characterizing the early stage of Halaf culture’s development. The complex of noted attributes clearly indicates that the earliest known Halaf culture settlements are located in Eastern Jazira. This conclusion contradicts the currently widespread view of Halaf culture’s origin in the area placed close to the Euphrates valley. Currently available data allow us to consider the relative dating of the Halaf culture in the context of its relations with Hassuna, Samarra and Northern ‘Ubaid cultures. The article notes the absence of reliable, objective evidence documenting continuity between cultural deposits of Hassuna and Halaf cultures. On the other hand, there are many examples demonstrating the cultural continuity of development between the Halaf and Northern ‘Ubaid cultures. Changing the face of Halaf culture and its acculturation to Northern ‘Ubaid could be related to technological innovation of ‘Ubaid origin in pottery manufacturing. The process of the replacement of hand formed vessels by pottery made on a rotary mechanism was traced in the cultural deposits of Yarim-Tepe 2 settlement.