ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN & SUMERIAN SEALS, SCRIPTS & TABLETS

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1 Sumerian) & ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN & SUMERIAN SEALS, SCRIPTS & TABLETS History & Ancient Mesopotamian & Sumerian Stamps & Seals Permission granted to reproduce for individual use only Enrichment4You.com ( )

2 Sumerian) & ANCIENT MESOPOTAMIAN & SUMERIAN SEALS, SCRIPTS & TABLETS Read a brief factual history of Mesopotamian and Sumerian Seals, Scripts & Tablets. This Enrichment4You E-Guide focuses on Mesopotamian Wedge Stylus and clay tablets along with Sumerian cylinder seals. With simple materials and tools, you too can make a reproduction of a Mesopotamian Wedge Stylus and Tablet and A Sumerian Cylinder Seal. Enrichment4You.com Published by Henrich Incorporated Copyright 2006 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without first obtaining the written permission of the copyright owner. Permission granted to reproduce for individual use only Enrichment4You.com ( )

3 Sumerian) & The development of writing became one of necessity. The need to record different amounts of harvested crops created a need for writing. Cuneiform writing was a means to record business transactions. MESOPOTAMIAN & SUMERIAN SEALS, SCRIPT & TABLETS A brief history Ancient Mesopotamian Seals The Mesopotamian civilization developed into a complex society. Irrigation ditches and the introduction of the plow improved agriculture to such an extent that trade became possible with the excess harvests. Sometime between 3000 to 2900 B.C. a variety of specialized crafts and industries developed including textiles, ceramic pottery and work with metals. The ancient Sumerians were powerful. Some of the most amazing stories come from this civilization including the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh. Permission granted to reproduce for individual use only Enrichment4You.com ( ) 1

4 Sumerian) & DID YOU KNOW??? Mesopotamian cylinder seals created a panoramic picture as they were rolled across soft clay. To create the miniature animals, cuneiform writing and religious figures the design was carved from the back to the front. Huge temples and ziggurats emerged. It was also during this time that the cylinder seal was commonly used. Based on artifacts from this time period, cylindrical seals were made of stone and were approximately five inches in size. Historians now believe that the language most often The Mesopotamian civilization accomplished many achievements among them being agriculture. Their irrigation ditches made it possible for them to cultivate crops and to offer their surplus in trade. Around 3000 to 2900 B.C. specialized craft industries emerged. Among them were ceramic pottery, metallurgy and textiles. The construction of monumental buildings such as temples and ziggurats also emerged. It was during this time period that cylinder seals became common. The cylindrical stone seals were approximately five inches in height and were incised with images. These images incorporated sacred symbols, agriculture items and text. Cylindrical seals were used to make a positive impression into soft clay. They were used to seal objects or ropes that contained commercial goods. As the clay dried, it would harden and keep the contents secure until the clay was broken. Permission granted to reproduce for individual use only Enrichment4You.com ( ) 2

5 Sumerian) & The ancient Sumerians were the first to create a thriving civilization along the lower Tigris and Euphrates valley. Today the area is known as Iraq. The Sumerians raised goats and cattle, grew wheat and barley and built immense temple complexes. Their kings were buried in great tombs. They were known to be fierce fighters and established a system of writing known as cuneiform. Cuneiform is created by pressing a wedge shaped stylus into the surface of soft clay. TRY THIS SITE - Write Like a Babylonian - DID YOU KNOW??? Sumerian seals incorporated symbols of animals, people, numbers, commodities and elements from their religion. Seals were made from a variety of materials including gypsum, aragonite and greenstone. The simple pictures (pictographs) utilized by the Sumerians eventually became more abstract. This new form of writing became known as cuneiform. 4 Permission granted to reproduce for individual use only Enrichment4You.com ( )