Cave Painting of Animals
PLACARD A © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Investigating the Past Through Inquiry 1
Cave Painting of Shapes and
PLACARD B © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Investigating the Past Through Inquiry 2
Handprints
Spear Thrower Top
PLACARD C © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Investigating the Past Through Inquiry 3
Clay Sculpture
PLACARD D © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Investigating the Past Through Inquiry 4
Cave Art Tools
PLACARD E © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Investigating the Past Through Inquiry 5
Clay Tablet
PLACARD A © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 6
Archaeologist’s notes: On this clay tablet, scribes from the Temple of Bau recorded the amount of barley (a grain) that workers and their families will receive from the government.
Married Couple
Archaeologist’s notes: This small statue of a married couple was found in the rubble of a religious shrine. The original statue had eyes made of shells and semiprecious stones. It may have been left at the shrine as a gift to the gods.
PLACARD B © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 7
Seal with Ox Pulling Plow
Archaeologist’s notes: The clay seal on the right shows men guiding an ox along as it pulls a plow to plant seeds. The cylinder seal (left) was rolled across a slab of clay to create this scene.
PLACARD C © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 8
Seal of King
Archaeologist’s notes: This impression was made from a cylinder seal. It shows King Ur-Nammu (seated) appointing Hashhamer as one of his governors. The cuneiform inscription on the seal says, “Ur-Nammu, the mighty hero, king of Ur; Hashhamer, the governor of Ishkun-Sin, his servant.”
PLACARD D © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 9
Chariot
Archaeologist’s notes: This small copper statue shows a Sumerian chariot pulled by four donkeys. This kind of chariot may have been used by a Sumerian soldier.
PLACARD E © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 10
Gold Cup
Archaeologist’s notes: This gold cup, created by Sumerian artisans, may have been used at banquets. Banquets were generally held for the members of the upper classes of Sumerian society.
PLACARD F © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 11
King with Basket
Archaeologist’s notes: This bronze statue shows King Ur-Nammu carrying a basket of bricks on his head. This is most likely a symbol for one of the king’s main responsibilities—to build and maintain the temples. In reality, the king would not have done the actual work himself. The inscription around the body of the statue records the restoration of the temple of Inana, the patron god of Uruk.
PLACARD G © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 12
Lyre
Archaeologist’s notes: This lyre—a stringed musical instrument—was decorated with gold and semiprecious stones. It was found in the tomb of a Sumerian queen. Royal musicians may have played this instrument to entertain the queen and her court.
PLACARD H © Teachers’ Curriculum Institute Ancient Sumer 13