Mesopotamia Jewellery



pair of gold hair ornaments, mesopotamian, circa 2000 bc (isin-larsa period). decorated granulation , cloisonné. walters art museum collections.


by approximately 5,000 years ago, jewellery-making had become significant craft in cities of mesopotamia. significant archaeological evidence comes royal cemetery of ur, hundreds of burials dating 2900–2300 bc unearthed; tombs such of puabi contained multitude of artefacts in gold, silver, , semi-precious stones, such lapis lazuli crowns embellished gold figurines, close-fitting collar necklaces, , jewel-headed pins. in assyria, men , women both wore extensive amounts of jewellery, including amulets, ankle bracelets, heavy multi-strand necklaces, , cylinder seals.


jewellery in mesopotamia tended manufactured thin metal leaf , set large numbers of brightly coloured stones (chiefly agate, lapis, carnelian, , jasper). favoured shapes included leaves, spirals, cones, , bunches of grapes. jewellers created works both human use , adorning statues , idols. employed wide variety of sophisticated metalworking techniques, such cloisonné, engraving, fine granulation, , filigree.


extensive , meticulously maintained records pertaining trade , manufacture of jewellery have been unearthed throughout mesopotamian archaeological sites. 1 record in mari royal archives, example, gives composition of various items of jewellery:




1 necklace of flat speckled chalcedony beads including: 34 flat speckled chalcedony bead, [and] 35 gold fluted beads, in groups of five.
1 necklace of flat speckled chalcedony beads including: 39 flat speckled chalcedony beads, [with] 41 fluted beads in group make hanging device.
1 necklace rounded lapis lazuli beads including: 28 rounded lapis lazuli beads, [and] 29 fluted beads clasp.








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