This report documents the recent “rediscovery” of a gold artifact from the site of Ur, Iraq. Although excavated in the late 1920s, this unique artifact still represents the earliest evidence for the use of gold in Southern Mesopotamia. The object was first reported by Sir Leonard Woolley, when it was identified in a stratum associated with al-‘Ubaid pottery at the lower levels of a test pit at Ur. Radiocarbon dates and parallels in the ceramic assemblage from the nearby site of ‘Oueili suggest this stratum at Ur dates to approximately 4800–4300 BCE. The gold artifact is a flat strip of twisted wire with a thickened and angular- shaped end. While the exact function of this artifact remains unclear, it was presumably used for decorative purposes.
On the Beginnings of Gold Use in Southern Mesopotamia: the Rediscovery of an Artifact from the al-‘Ubaid Stratum at Ur in the Collections of the Penn Museum
Benati;
2020
Abstract
This report documents the recent “rediscovery” of a gold artifact from the site of Ur, Iraq. Although excavated in the late 1920s, this unique artifact still represents the earliest evidence for the use of gold in Southern Mesopotamia. The object was first reported by Sir Leonard Woolley, when it was identified in a stratum associated with al-‘Ubaid pottery at the lower levels of a test pit at Ur. Radiocarbon dates and parallels in the ceramic assemblage from the nearby site of ‘Oueili suggest this stratum at Ur dates to approximately 4800–4300 BCE. The gold artifact is a flat strip of twisted wire with a thickened and angular- shaped end. While the exact function of this artifact remains unclear, it was presumably used for decorative purposes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
