Archeologists’ notes on Artifacts from SumerName:_________________________ This clay sculpture is believed to be of the goddess Inanna, the deity of fertility. Couple Sculpture This small statue of a married couple was found in the rubble of a religious shrine. This original statue had eyes made of shells and semiprecious stones. It was probably left at the shrine as a gift to the gods. Stone Seal Metal Harness This electrum (a metal mixture of silver and gold) object lay among the remains of animals in the Tombs of Ur. It was most likely used to harness oxen or horses to a chariot for royalty. Characteristic of civilization? ___________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ Why? ________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _______________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of Civilization? ______________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Clay Sculpture This impression was made from a stone seal. It shows two gods. One god has a hand in the shape of a scorpion. The other is using a plow. Directions: Complete the archeologists notes on artifacts found in ancient Sumer. You need to write TWO characteristics for each artifact and then WHY that artifact is evidence of that characteristic. One has been done for you, use it as a model and example for the remainder of your responses. Stable Food Supply This stone seal shows a god pushing a plow which was a tool used to till soil and allowed farmers to plant more crops easier and quicker.

Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_____________________________________________________ __________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_____________________________________________________ __________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Copper Statue This small copper statue shows a Sumerian chariot being pulled by four donkeys. This kind of chariot was probably used by Sumerian soldiers. Kururru Tablet Bead Pendant Necklace Drinking Tube This Babylonian kudurru, or black limestone, tablet shows the Babylonian king Marduk-nadin-ahhe ( BC), captioned 'the avenger of his people' in cuneiform, holding a bow and two arrows as symbols of victory. This pendant necklace found in the Tombs of Ur was created by Sumerian artisans, probably to be worn at banquets and religious ceremonies. This gold drinking straw was found in the Royal Tombs of Ur – it was found near a silver mouthpiece bent at an angle to be used as a straw Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?__________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Version 2

Placard A Archeologists’ notes on Artifacts from Sumer On this clay tablet, scribes from the Temple of Bau recorded the amount of barley (a grain) that each of the workers and their families will receive Placard B This small statue of a married couple was found in the rubble of a religious shrine. This original statue had eyes made of shells and semiprecious stones. It was probably left at the shrine as a gift to the gods. Placard C This impression was made from a stone seal. It shows two gods. One god has a hand in the shape of a scorpion. The other is using a plow. Placard D This clay seal 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, his servant.” Characteristic of civilization? ___________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? __________________ Why? ________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _______________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of Civilization? ______________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_____________________________________________________ __________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_____________________________________________________ __________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Placard E This small copper statue shows a Sumerian chariot being pulled by four donkeys. This kind of chariot was probably used by Sumerian soldiers. Placard F Placard G Placard H This bronze statue shows King Ur- Nammu carrying a basket of bricks on his head. This probably represents the fact that one of the king’s main responsibilities was to build and maintain the temples, even though he didn’t actually do the work himself. This gold cup was created by Sumerian artisans, probably to be used at banquets. Those banquets were generally for the members of the upper classes of Sumerian society. This lyre – a stringed musical instrument- was decorated with gold and semiprecious stones. It was found in the tomb of a Sumerian queen and her court. Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?__________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Modified

Archeologists’ notes on Artifacts from SumerName:_________________________ This clay sculpture is believed to be of the goddess Inanna, the deity of fertility. Couple Sculpture This small statue of a married couple was found in the rubble of a religious shrine. This original statue had eyes made of shells and semiprecious stones. It was probably left at the shrine as a gift to the gods. Stone Seal Metal Harness This electrum (a metal mixture of silver and gold) object lay among the remains of animals in the Tombs of Ur. It was most likely used to harness oxen or horses to a chariot for royalty. Characteristic of civilization? ___________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of Civilization? ______________________ Why? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Clay Sculpture This impression was made from a stone seal. It shows two gods. One god has a hand in the shape of a scorpion. The other is using a plow. Directions: Complete the archeologists notes on artifacts found in ancient Sumer. You need to write one characteristics for each artifact and then WHY that artifact is evidence of that characteristic. One has been done for you, use it as a model and example for the remainder of your responses. Stable Food Supply This stone seal shows a god pushing a plow which was a tool used to till soil and allowed farmers to plant more crops easier and quicker.

Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_____________________________________________________ __________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Characteristic of civilization? _____________________ WHY?_____________________________________________________ __________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ ______________________ Copper Statue This small copper statue shows a Sumerian chariot being pulled by four donkeys. This kind of chariot was probably used by Sumerian soldiers. Kururru Tablet Bead Pendant Necklace Drinking Tube This Babylonian kudurru, or black limestone, tablet shows the Babylonian king Marduk-nadin-ahhe ( BC), captioned 'the avenger of his people' in cuneiform, holding a bow and two arrows as symbols of victory. This pendant necklace found in the Tombs of Ur was created by Sumerian artisans, probably to be worn at banquets and religious ceremonies. This gold drinking straw was found in the Royal Tombs of Ur – it was found near a silver mouthpiece bent at an angle to be used as a straw Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Characteristic of civilization?______________________ WHY? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________