Mesopotamian Economy: Did you mean...?

This article documents and elaborates on the many critical behind-the-scenes events, unknown to the public, before the history leaves us. The author The bulk of the “the land between the two rivers” lies in what we call today the Republic...

A pottery incense container found at layer 5 of the altar platform of the central temple of Basmosian Hill, Mesopotamia, Hurrian period, 2nd millennium BCE. Sulaimaniya Museum, Iraq.

These rings were found on the fingers of a woman named Puabi, inside her grave. Puabi was a Semitic Akkadian woman from Ur, c. 2600 BCE, possibly a queen or priestess. Two rings were made of gold wire that was twisted before being wound...

This carved grey stone has an integral handle. It was possibly a weight. There are eight compartments decorated with the shapes of eyes and rosettes. The handle imitates basketry and is ornamented with lozenges in relief. The stone might...

Perforated votive plaque with a banquet scene, Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq, c. 2700-2600 BCE. Louvre, Paris.

This is a pair of gold boat-shaped earrings, worn by one of Queen Puabi's attendants and was found inside Puabi's grave. Early Dynastic Period, circa 2600 BCE. From the Royal Cemetery at Ur, Southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. Part of...

Both earrings are placed in a mirror-image position, with the lower surfaces facing each other. Each earring is composed of nine lunar-shaped segments forming a flattened half- ball. The cuneiform signs run vertically from above downward...

This clay tablet was illegally excavated. The precise provenance of the excavation is unknown, but probably from Southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. It is currently housed in the Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan.

This clay tablet was illegally excavated. The precise provenance of the excavation is unknown, but probably from Southern Mesopotamia, modern-day Iraq. It is currently housed in the Sulaymaniyah Museum, Iraqi Kurdistan.

Copper alloy hoe blade with socket, from Ur, Early Dynastic III, 2600-2300 BCE. The British Museum, London.