Stamp Seals Research Articles

Were the Cretulae (Clay Sealings) from the Indus Port Town of Lothal Part of an Administrative Archive? Contextual, Interpretive, and Comparative Evidence

Clay sealings (cretulae) have traditionally been assumed to have been used in ancient administrative systems to secure the shipment of commodities and to account for their receipt. However, research in Western Asia has revealed that they were primarily used as a complex administrative tool in the management of storehouses and the goods they contained, ensuring the personal accountability of the individuals under whose seal or combination of seals particular items were stored. Although stamp seals are relatively common finds in the Indus Civilization, clay sealings are not as numerous as in contemporaneous sites throughout Western Asia. This rarity has led to speculation about the actual use of seals in the Indus Civilization. However, the study of an exceptional assemblage of clay sealings found at the Indus site of Lothal in Gujarat, India, has shed light on the function and use of these objects in the Indus Civilization. In particular, the stratigraphic analysis of the discovery context has made it possible to consider the existence of an administrative archive comparable to those excavated in Western Asia.

Seals from Ancient South Arabia: A Preliminary Analysis

Abstract There exists widespread evidence that the Near Eastern societies manufactured seals. However, among these, South Arabian seals remain largely neglected while performing various particularly revealing functions. For instance, the practice of sealing allowed for the explicit expression of ownership as well as the act of witnessing in legal matters. More broadly, seals were a means of articulating individual identities and reinforcing communal belonging. This paper is the first study on the seals of ancient South Arabia after the unpublished Ph.D. dissertation by Diana P. Wong (1999. “Stamp Seals of the Ancient Yemen.” Unpublished PhD diss., Berkely). It investigates a corpus comprising 85 published seals currently held in museums and private collections across three continents. After providing a brief survey of the region’s history, this article analyses the epigraphic and iconographic content carved on the corpus, offering some reflections on the typology and characteristics of the seals, as well as on the society of ancient South Arabia.

Objects of Visual Representation and Local Cultural Idioms

ABSTRACT In this paper, I reconsider the meaning of decorated objects like painted pottery and seal impressions with geometric and image-bearing motifs in prehistoric contexts. In northern Mesopotamia, the 6th millennium b.c., known more broadly as the Halaf Period, is a time when pottery with intricate painted motifs and stamp seals of a remarkably uniform style comprised a notable component of the cultural assemblage across a wide expanse. Following Alfred Gell, and using the site of Tell Kurdu, a peripheral Halaf Period 6th millennium b.c. site located in the Amuq Valley of Hatay, I highlight the ways in which such wares were used, and I strive to view them within their context-dependent settings. The region, on the fringes of this cultural entity provides a unique opportunity to identify a local Amuq identity and the nuances of hybridity that come with the appropriation of new elements of material culture, including Halaf Period painted pottery.

Stamp Seals as Jewelry

Stamp Seals as Jewelry

The Corpus of Stamp Seals from the Southern Levant Database

The Corpus of Stamp Seals from the Southern Levant Database

URUK SEALS OF EASTERN ANATOLIA: ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS AND INTERPRETATIONS

The phase after the Ubaid Period in Mesopotamia is called the Uruk Period. This culture coincides with the Chalcolithic Period of Eastern Anatolia. During the Uruk Period, Mesopotamia developed agriculturally. However, due to its insufficiency in terms of natural resources such as minerals and timber, they established a trade strategy centered on Eastern Anatolia, especially in the 4th millennium BC. One of the most important evidences of this trade system is seals. Made of various materials such as stone, metal, wood, glass, bone, faience and clay, seals can be of various types including stamp, cylinder and stamp-cylinder. Seals with functions such as ornamentation, protection from evil forces, confirmation and security were unearthed at Çatalhöyük in the Neolithic Period in Anatolia. Seals from the Uruk Period were also found in centers such as Elazığ-Norşuntepe and Çınaz Höyük and Malatya-Arslantepe in the Eastern Anatolia Region. While the seals of Elazığ-Norşuntepe and Çınaz Höyük consist of stamp seals, Malatya-Arslantepe has cylinder seals as well as stamp seals. The stamp seals found at Norşuntepe and Çınaz Höyük are predominantly round stamps, but there are also square stamps. Geometric motifs and stylized animal figures were used as decoration elements. They usually have round rope holes on the back. The stamp seals from Malatya-Arslantepe are round in shape. Geometric motifs and stylized depictions of humans, snakes, rams, deer and mixed creatures are found on this type of seals. In addition to stamp seals, there are also cylinder seals at Arslantepe. This type of seals mostly depict agricultural activities. They depict people plowing fields with oxen pulling the plow. Although the seals found in the mentioned centers are similar in form, they show some differences in terms of decoration. However, it is possible to say that all the examples are influenced by the seals of the Uruk Period in terms of decoration and subject matter.

Cultural Continuity from the Kaˉrum Period to the Hittite Empire Period in Light of Stamp Seals and Impressions

Arkeolojik yeni bulgular, “Hitit” kültürünün ve sanatının karakteristik özelliklerinin Kaˉ rum Dönemi’nin geç evresinde (MÖ 18. yy. sonu) güçlü bir şekilde görülmeye başladığı görüşünü daha da kuvvetlendirmiştir. Bu sanat ve kültür, Anadolu insanının Kuzey Suriye ve Mezopotamya kültürleri ile etkileşimi sonucu sentezle ortaya çıkan yerli Anadolu sanatından kök alarak yüzyıllar boyunca kesintisiz bir şekilde varlığını sürdürmüştür. Farklı nitelikteki birçok arkeolojik materyal üzerinde görülen bu “Hititli” unsurlar hakkında en kapsamlı bilgiyi sağlayan görsel sanat eserlerinin başında damga mühür ve baskıları gelmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, başta Kültepe/Kaniş-Nesˇa’dan ele geçen yeni bulgular olmak üzere, dönemin diğer önemli merkezlerinden ele geçen damga mühür ve baskılarının hem tipolojik hem de ikonografik özelliklerinin analiz edilmesidir. Böylece, Kaˉ rum Dönemi’nden (MÖ 1950-1710) Hitit Dönemi (MÖ 1710/1650-1200) sonuna kadar kültürlerarası devamlılığın damga mühür sanatı üzerindeki etkileri gösterilmeye çalışılmıştır. Filolojik ve arkeolojik bulguların birlikte değerlendirildiği bu çalışmada, sadece Hitit sanat üslubunun değil aynı zamanda Anadolu
 hiyeroglif yazısının ilk işaretlerinin de Kaˉ rum Dönemi’nin geç evresinde etkili olan yerli kültürden kök bulduğu iddia edilmektedir.

Context and Shape: Geographical and Chronological Distribution of Handled Stamp Seals in Anatolia and Northern Levant

This article focuses on handled stamp seals, their typological classification, archaeological contexts and geographic distribution. By analyzing a total of 679 seals (302 from good archaeological contexts) over a time period from the Early Bronze Age to the Iron Age, it was possible to point out that specific shapes can be considered typical for the Anatolian region, while others were adopted from Anatolia in the Levant or belong to specific site productions. The data have shown that of the three predominant types (Stalk, Domed and Modelled Domed Knob Seals), probably only one passed from Anatolia to the Northern Levant with a consequent proliferation of variants. All other types of handled stamp seals didn’t provide sufficient data in archaeological contexts to better define the dynamics of production or geographical displacement: therefore, it was only possible to present the general data and propose some hypotheses.

Human–Animal Encounters on Early Iron Age Stamp Seals

Human–Animal Encounters on Early Iron Age Stamp Seals

Stamp Seals in and out of Georgia

The Article discusses the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age clay seals, mostly stamps which have been discovered on the territory of Georgia and also their analogues. I have started to investigate this issue on my master and on that stage of study I had done catalogue, classification and the research of the given materials. As a PhD dissertation I am planning to finish the study of the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age Georgian Clay seals.As it is seen from the study of the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age Georgian seals in most cases their surface depicts the ornamental motives which were very spread in the other ancient cultures in different periods, but at the same time some of the depictions are local. As it is known societies which had been living on the territory of Georgia had intercultural and trade relations with different cultures, such as Anatolian, Aegean, and Mediterranean, near Eastern and so on. And these relations could be seen on different materials discovered during the archaeological excavations. As I have already mentioned Georgian seals depictions have parallels in different ancient cultures from Europe to Indus valley. Before appearing in Georgia stamp seals had been spread in some other ancient cultures earlier. Probably this type of seals had been entered on the territory of Georgia from these cultures. One of the main goals of my works is to find out from which culture, with which way and when it started to distribute stamp seals on the territory of Georgia. to research this issue, I use some methods. For example: I compare Georgian seals with its analogues and also, I mark the discovery places of its analogues on the map chronologically. This will help me to define the distribution territories of this kind of the seals and its spreading routs, moreover, I will be able to see from which territory were distributed stamp seals on the territory of Georgia. It is true that the seals played a very important role in this period people’s everyday life because they have been found at almost all Georgian significant archaeological sites. unfortunately, there exists many vague facts about Late Bronze-Early Iron Age Georgian archaeology. So, studying this kind of important materials will clear up some of the undefined issues about this period Georgia too. the fact that Georgian seals finds many analogues among the ancient worlds seals grows this artifacts importance, and it is evident that Georgian seals must be studied among the other cultures’ seals.

Wine Jars and Jar Makers of Cyprus: The Ethnoarchaeology of Pitharia

Wine Jars and Jar Makers of Cyprus: The Ethnoarchaeology of Pitharia

OKS SIVILIZATSIYASINING ARAB KO’RFAZIGA TA’SIRI MUAMMOSIGA DOIR AYRIM MULOHAZALAR

It is known that the Oxus civilization in the Bronze Age, with its unique material culture, interacted with a number of cultural countries: the Indian Valley, Iran, Mesopotamia, Elam and other regions. As a result of these relationships, interactions and interactions are formed. Archaeologists turn to archaeological and written sources to shed light on the historiography of this period. This research is devoted to the history of cultural relations between the Oxus civilization and the countries of the Arabian Gulf in the Bronze Age. The article highlights cultural ties based on an analysis of stamp seals and unique artifacts.Key words: Dilmun, Magan, marine shell, Arabian Gulf, Bahrain, Mesopotamia, Harappa, Gonur, Afghanistan

Печати из могильника Аджикуи

While the catalogue of the graves from Adji Kui is being prepared for the upcoming publication, this paper describes and presents for the first time fifteen seals found in the burials. The seals were manufactured in stone, metal and faience; thirteen of them were one-sided stamp seals, one is a stamp seal atop a pin head in bronze and the last is represented by a two-sided seal in hematite. Their subjects, shape and material as well as their manufacturing techniques highlight that all seals belong to the Oxus Civilization. They find several close comparisons with artefacts from other sites in Margiana and Bactria and their chronological distribution is dated to the late 3rd millennium BC. As evidenced in other Oxus Civilization graveyards, most of the Adji Kui seals were found in graves containing female individuals, surmising then that the place of women in the Middle East and Central Asian communities, among them also Adji Kui, was socially and economically important.

Gillûlîm: Rollers, Scarabs in Ezekiel

In keeping with the semantic core of the root גלל , the term גלולים designates “rollers.” Connections with Egypt suggest a more specific use of גלולים in a number of passages of the Hebrew text of Ezekiel. It is a designation of the widely spread iconographic concept of the scarab, with its phenotypes of scarab-shaped and scaraboid stamp seals, heart scarabs, and depictions on reliefs. Heart-shaped amulets alluding to the scarab ideology provide the backdrop of Ezek 14:3. The scarab’s association with the heart replacement in Egyptian mortuary cult shapes the backdrop of Ezek 6:5–6 and 36:25–27.

Looking in Classrooms. Teaching ancient iconography and interpretation - the basics, with stamp seals as a case study

Looking in Classrooms. Teaching ancient iconography and interpretation - the basics, with stamp seals as a case study

The contribution of the domesticated camel and advanced irrigation techniques (the horizontal well/Falaj system) to the Iron Age economy and settlement patterns of the Oman Peninsula and Arabia.

Iron Age II is considered the classical period of the Iron Age (figure: 2). This period shows sudden increase in distribution and diversification in settlement pattern, in South-eastern Arabia (Magee 1998b:49). The settlements during this period expanded to include inland (Herrmann et al. 2012), mountains (Haser in Avanzini 2010:162) and coastal sites (Mouton & Schiettecatte 2014). Settlements became more diverse to include non-residential architecture. An appearance of irrigation technology (Falaj) along with camel domestication coincides with this increase. This increase was accompanied by regional (Benoist & Mery 2012: 88) (between the varied types of settlements) and trans-regional contact (with south Arabia) and goods exchange (Magee 1999, 2004, 2005).The layout, the location, the structure and the material culture excavated from this period reflects a complex community (Magee & Thompson 2001:129) (Magee 1998b:54). This manifested in the appearance of a belief system related to both irrigation and bronze production (the snake cult) (Benoist 2007:50), specialized labour in pottery (Benoist & Mery 2012:88), metal production (Magee 1998a:114) (Nashef in Avanzini 2010:215) and administration systems (al-Tikriti 2010:240), fortification structures related to the agriculture activity (Magee 2014:237), symbolic (axe heads on the stamp seals) and prestigious goods for elites (Magee 1998b:56). This paper argues that irrigation technology was responsible for creating a social elite class. This class was responsible for cyclic production, the expansion and the diversification of settlement patterns using the domestication of the camel.The Iron Age is divided into three sub periods based on ceramic evidence from Tell Abraq: I (1200–1000 BC), II (1000–600 BC) and III (600–300 BC) (Magee 2001:345).Table 1: Brief description of the settlement patterns and economy of Iron Age I and III: Iron Age I(1300-1000BC) Iron Age III(600-300BC) Settlement Patterns Known Shimal, Tell Abraq, al- One-third reduction in number Hamriyah and possibly Kalba; of sites when compared with on the Gulf coast, and the East Iron Age II. Known sites are Coast (Fig. 1) (Potts 2001:50). Tell Abraq, Shimal, Rumeilah, Hili17, Hili 2, Nud Ziba, al- Thuqaibah, graves in the Wadi al-Qawr and Dibba oasis (Potts 2001:50). Economy A) Dependency of the Little is known about Iron Age inhabitants on fish and III. However, excavations in shellfish (Potts 1990:103-109). Thuqeibah shows that the B) Metrical and technological economy consisted of analysis suggest that pottery agriculture, stock breeding and was produced on a part-time goods exchange with the coast or occasional basis with non- (Del Cerro 2015:23) specialized labor, and that the main reason for production was to satisfy domestic needs (Magee 2005:51). Cause of decline in May be due to: May be due to:Number of sites and a) Drought conditions that a) The limitation ofeconomy. impacted water resources, archaeological surveys in 3 b) The decline of maritime some regions versus the trade which might have been intensive explorations of caused by the Mesopotamian others restrict the knowledge replacement of Omani copper about this period (Mouton & production with that from Schiettecatte 2014:45). Anatolia, b) The collapse of the Iron c) The political instability in Age II Irrigation technology the Indus Valley during Aryan (al-Tikriti 2010:240) invasion which led scholars to ((Mouton & Schiettecatte speculate that this may have 2014:45) caused further disruption, through a cultural effect, in south-eastern Arabia (Brunswig in Potts 1990: 29 and Carter 1997: 95-7).

Reassessing western and central Anatolian Early Bronze Age sealing practices: a case from Boz Höyük (Afyon)

AbstractThis paper presents a detailed investigation of an Early Bronze Age clay sealing from Boz Höyük, a settlement mound located along the Büyük Menderes valley (inland western Anatolia). The artefact, clearly local in manufacture, was employed as a stopper to seal a bottle/flask and impressed with two different stamp seals. These elements are compared to all other published contemporary sealings in western and central Anatolia, in order to understand the degree of complexity of sealing practices in the region. In turn, evidence of Early Bronze Age Anatolian sealing practices is discussed in relation to the available evidence regarding the degree of social complexity in local communities. It is suggested that, during the Early Bronze Age, sealings were employed for product branding rather than control over storage and redistribution of commodities, and only at the beginning of the second millennium BC did the region witness the introduction of complex administrative practices.

“Cylinder seals for the lower classes”

Summary Egyptologists have paid much attention to inscribed administrative seals and their impressions. By contrast, the so-called figure seals, which render no or hardly any text, but instead use icons and signs inspired on hieroglyphs which however yield no coherent sense, have received far less attention. Usually this material is related to the lower strata of society. According to current interpretations, it is rooted in the Egyptian culture of the later Old Kingdom and First Intermediate Period. The phenomenon would be a corollary of the decreasing prominence of central state authority in this era. Proceeding from a number of recent early Old Kingdom finds from al-Shaykh Saʽīd/Wādī Zabaydā, the present article argues that a) figure seals were continually in use from the late Predynastic until the late Old Kingdom and b) different from what is commonly assumed, stamp seals were in existence long before the late Old Kingdom. The article challenges the relationship between these object categories and developments specifically in late Old Kingdom Egypt.

CHALCOLITHIC CERAMIC CONNECTIONS BETWEEN MESOPOTAMIA AND IRAN, c.5900–5100 b.c.e.

The Chalcolithic period in Mesopotamia and Iran (c.6000–4000 b.c.e.) is characterised by larger cities replacing small farming settlements, technological developments including wheel thrown pottery and copper metal working, and people establishing long distance trade networks. The Halaf horizon (5900–5100 b.c.e.) developed out of the local late pottery Neolithic tradition and is found throughout western Syria, southern Turkey, and northern and central Iraq. This archaeological culture is defined by a finely painted pottery, dryland farming, round and rectangular houses, and the use of stamp seals. A comparable ceramic horizon, the J-ware horizon (5200–4700 b.c.e.) arose in the Mahidasht and Kermanshah valleys of Iran. The J-ware ceramics are finely painted, possibly deriving from the Halaf tradition, but also slipped and burnished. The Rowanduz Archaeological Program's (RAP) excavations elucidate links between northern Iraq and northern Iran from the Chalcolithic to the modern period. This paper explores the relationship between the Halaf and J-ware traditions at Banahilk, recently re-excavated by RAP, and the larger contacts during the Chalcolithic.

Cuneiform tablets, cylinder seals, stamp seals and scaraboids in the Museum of Cultural History, University of Oslo

The purpose of this paper is to present a diverse group of previously unpublished objects from the ancient Near East, several of which bear texts. Among the three cuneiform tablets, the first is a Middle Babylonian administrative text from the reign of Nazi-maruttash, the second provides a receipt belonging to the archive of Iddin-Marduk (reign of Nabonidus or Cyrus II) and the third contains a list counting smiths from the Neo- or Late Babylonian period. In addition, there are two cylinder seals: one depicts a presentation scene (Ur III period) and the other two ostrich-like birds (Neo-Assyrian or Neo-Babylonian period). Three stamp seals and two scaraboids, formerly held in the famous collection of Baron Plato von Ustinow, are also recorded and discussed. Finally, in a separate but related contribution, an Old Babylonian letter is presented by Zsombor Földi and the current author.