Early Dynastic / Sumerian
The period from circa 3000 BC-2350 BC in southern Mesopotamia is sub-divided into three main phases known as Early Dynastic I, II & III. Part of this region at this period corresponds to the ancient region of Sumer hence the assumption that all of the material culture is Sumerian.
Description:
The Sumerian Period is a grouping of the Early Dynastic Periods which were divided by the Oriental Institute's excavations in the Diyala. This term was used during Woolley's time to refer to this span of time. It was preceded by the Jemdat Nasr Period and followed by the Akkadian Period. During this period, Kingship alternated between a number of competing dynasties, traditionally including Kish, Uruk, and Ur.
Ultra Low Chronology:
Short/Low Chronology: 2800-2230 BCE
Middle Chronology: 2900-2340 BCE
Objects: Early Dynastic / Sumerian Export: JSON - XML - CSV
| Object | U Number | Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number) | Museum Number (BM Registration Number) | Museum Number (UPM B-number) | Description (Catalog Card) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 10003 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Gold Cup Oval, calabash type Decorated with fluting and engraved patterns round the edge and on the base. The handles are vertical knobs of lapis lazuli between gold plates, secured by rivets. |
| 10004 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Gold Lamp Ordinary flat shell type At the tip of the spout the metal is bent into a coil On the base inscr. "Mes-Kalam-dug" |
| 10013 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Gold Drinking-cup (electrum?) apparently lathe spun: base formed by adding a small circular plate. Found with U.10,034 |
| 10024A | (none) | (none) | (none) | [A-B] Lamps Silver, two were found, one inside the other: the outer lamp completely decayed, the inner in good condition. |
| 10031 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Silver Bowl Oval, with base Exactly like the gold example from the same grave: the foot is slightly developed Base burst in TYPE__ |
| 10032 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Silver Bowl Oval A good deal distorted & cracked |
| 10034 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Gold Bowl. (? electrum) Hemispherical with slight base broken nearly in halves. Found corroded to the copper tray (U.10036) and silver libation vase (U.10035). The decorated gold bowl, U.10003 was inside it, and so was the plain gold bowl U.10013 |
| 10035 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Libation Jug Silver In very good condition, but adhering to U.10036. [drawing 1:5] [struck out: XXVIII] Type 84 (new) |
| 10036 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Tray With deeply recessed centre and sloped circular rim [drawing 2:5] Type 30 (new) [struck out: XXIX] |
| 10052A | (none) | (none) | (none) | [A-D] Silver Bowl 4 Oval - one inside the other. The 3 inner examples are well preserved and have small lapis handles: the outer bowl is much decayed. TYPE__ |
| 10080 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Cauldron Straight-sided with two small ring handles at rim [drawing] Type LI |
| 10081J | (none) | 1928,1010.392d | (none) | Copper Vessels. Bowls, cups and tumblers. A mass of perhaps 30, all fixed together by corrosion. Many of the bowls are fluted. |
| 10081B | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Vessels. Bowls, cups and tumblers. A mass of perhaps 30, all fixed together by corrosion. Many of the bowls are fluted. |
| 10081C | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Vessels. Bowls, cups and tumblers. A mass of perhaps 30, all fixed together by corrosion. Many of the bowls are fluted. |
| 10081D | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Vessels. Bowls, cups and tumblers. A mass of perhaps 30, all fixed together by corrosion. Many of the bowls are fluted. |
| 10082 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Bucket [drawing] not accurate [Type] XXII |
| 10083 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Cauldron Supported on four small bulls feet [drawing] approx. Type XLII |
| 10084 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Vase [drawing: approx.] Type XXXIII |
| 10085 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Jug (Bottom all gone) [drawing] Type XXXI |
| 10086A | (none) | (none) | (none) | [A] Copper Bucket Exactly like U10082 q.v. but larger= ht. c. 020 but the pot is too distorted for accurate measurement Inverted over its mouth is a [B] shallow plate diam 017 with rim 0025 high [drawing] something like this [drawing] Type XXXVII |
| 10087 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Copper Cauldron Much distorted and broken [drawing] Type II |
| 10110 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Tablet Accounts. archaic. receipts of oil and honey? HC 51 |
| 10111 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Tablet Accounts Archaic HC 52 |
| 10112 | (none) | (none) | (none) | Tablet Accounts, archaic HC 53 |
| 10120 | (none) | 1930,1213.655 | (none) | Tablet Dusinan note: 2 (for?) ad-e or the major-domo HC 102 |
Related Terms
Ubaid - Uruk - Jemdat Nasr - Akkadian Dynasty - Guti/Post Akkadian - Ur III - Old Babylonian - Middle Assyrian - Kassite - Neo-Assyrian - Neo-Babylonian - Achaemenid Empire (Persian) - Seleucid - Parthian