Early Dynastic Period (Mesopotamia)

This development ultimately led, directly after this period, to broad Mesopotamian unification under the rule of Sargon, the first monarch of the Akkadian Empire.

These new findings revealed that Lower Mesopotamia shared many socio-cultural developments with neighboring areas and that the entirety of the ancient Near East participated in an exchange network in which material goods and ideas were being circulated.

[2] The periodization was developed in the 1930s during excavations that were conducted by Henri Frankfort on behalf of the University of Chicago Oriental Institute at the archaeological sites of Tell Khafajah, Tell Agrab, and Tell Asmar in the Diyala Region of Iraq.

Research in Syria has shown that developments there were quite different from those in the Diyala river valley region or southern Iraq, rendering the traditional Lower Mesopotamian chronology useless.

[2][3] The ED was preceded by the Jemdet Nasr and then succeeded by the Akkadian period, during which, for the first time in history, large parts of Mesopotamia were united under a single ruler.

According to later Mesopotamian historical tradition, this was the time when legendary mythical kings such as Lugalbanda, Enmerkar, Gilgamesh, and Aga ruled over Mesopotamia.

[20] For example, the peace treaty between Entemena of Lagash and Lugal-kinishe-dudu of Uruk, recorded on a clay nail, represents the oldest known agreement of this kind.

For example, the reigns of legendary figures like king Gilgamesh of Uruk and his adversaries Enmebaragesi and Aga of Kish possibly date to ED II.

[27] In March 2020, archaeologists announced the discovery of a 5,000-year-old cultic area filled with more than 300 broken ceremonial ceramic cups, bowls, jars, animal bones and ritual processions dedicated to Ningirsu at the site of Girsu.

Along with neighboring areas, this region was home to Scarlet Ware—a type of painted pottery characterized by geometric motifs representing natural and anthropomorphic figures.

[36][38] The period seems to have experienced a phase of decentralization, as reflected by the absence of large monumental buildings and complex administrative systems similar to what had existed at the end of the fourth millennium BC.

Starting in 2700 BC and accelerating after 2500, the main urban sites grew considerably in size and were surrounded by towns and villages that fell inside their political sphere of influence.

Many sites in Upper Mesopotamia, including Tell Chuera and Tell Beydar, shared a similar layout: a main tell surrounded by a circular lower town.

[citation needed] Among the important sites of this period are Tell Brak (Nagar), Tell Mozan, Tell Leilan, and Chagar Bazar in the Jezirah and Mari on the middle Euphrates.

According to the excavator of Mari, the circular city on the middle Euphrates was founded ex nihilo at the time of the Early Dynastic I period in Lower Mesopotamia.

The archives of Ebla, capital city of a powerful kingdom during the ED IIIb period, indicated that writing and the state were well-developed, contrary to what had been believed about this area before its discovery.

Due to the absence of written evidence and a lack of archaeological excavations targeting this period, the socio-political situation of Proto-Elamite Iran is not well understood.

[citation needed] In the middle third millennium BC, Elam emerged as a powerful political entity in the area of southern Lorestan and northern Khuzestan.

[45] The areas further north and to the east were important participants in the international trade of this period due to the presence of tin (central Iran and the Hindu Kush) and lapis lazuli (Turkmenistan and northern Afghanistan).

The artifacts found in the royal tombs of the First Dynasty of Ur indicate that foreign trade was particularly active during this period, with many materials coming from foreign lands, such as Carnelian likely coming from the Indus or Iran, Lapis Lazuli from Afghanistan, silver from Turkey, copper from Oman, and gold from several locations such as Egypt, Nubia, Turkey or Iran.

The Code of Urukagina has also been widely hailed as the first recorded example of government reform, as it sought to achieve a higher level of freedom and equality.

Goods such as obsidian from Turkey, lapis lazuli from Badakhshan in Afghanistan, beads from Bahrain, and seals inscribed with the Indus Valley script from India have been found in Ur.

Gold items discovered included personal ornaments, weapons, tools, sheet-metal cylinder seals, fluted bowls, goblets, imitation cockle shells, and sculptures.

Lapis lazuli has been found in items such as jewelry, plaques, gaming boards, lyres, ostrich-egg vessels, and also in parts of a larger sculpture known as Ram in a Thicket.

The Sumerian style clearly influenced neighbouring regions, as similar statues have been recovered from sites in Upper Mesopotamia, including Assur, Tell Chuera, and Mari.

[41][8] Examples include the votive relief of king Ur-Nanshe of Lagash and his family found at Girsu and that of Dudu, a priest of Ningirsu.

The most remarkable gold objects come from the Royal Cemetery at Ur, including musical instruments and the complete inventory of Puabi’s tomb.

This variety disappeared at the start of the third millennium, to be replaced by an almost exclusive focus on mythological and cultural scenes in Lower Mesopotamia and the Diyala region.

[8] Examples of inlay have been found at several sites and used materials such as nacre (mother of pearl), white and coloured limestone, lapis lazuli, and marble.

It is our source of the most information on this practice in ancient Mesopotamia [74] Similar mosaic elements were discovered at Mari, where a mother-of-pearl engraver's workshop was identified, and at Ebla where marble fragments were found from a 3-meter-high panel decorating a room of the royal palace.

Man carrying a box, possibly for offerings. Metalwork, c. 2900–2600 BCE , Sumer. Metropolitan Museum of Art . [ 1 ]
A photograph from the 1930s of Dutch archaeologist Henri Frankfort , who coined the term Early Dynastic period .
Scarlet Ware Pottery excavated in Khafajah . 2800-2600 BCE, Early Dynastic II-III, Sumer. British Museum . [ 7 ]
Foundation nail commemorating the peace treaty between Entemena of Lagash and Lugal-kinishe-dudu of Uruk (c. 2500 BC)
Gold objects from tomb PG 580, Royal Cemetery at Ur , 26th century BC, Early Dynastic Period III.
The "War" panel of the Standard of Ur showing combatants engaged in military activities. Dated to c. 2600 BC.
One fragment of the Stele of the Vultures showing king Eannatum as a military charioteer . Dated to c. 2450 B.C. Currently in the Louvre Museum .
Stele of Ushumgal , 2900-2700 BC. Probably from Umma . [ 29 ]
Gold helmet of Meskalamdug , ruler of the First Dynasty of Ur , circa 2500 BC, Early Dynastic period III.
Ring of Gold, Carnelian, Lapis Lazuli, Tello, ancient Girsu , mid-3rd millennium BC.
Irrigated palm grove along the banks of the Euphrates River , in modern-day Southern Iraq . This landscape has remained unchanged since earliest antiquity.
Map detailing the First Eblaite Kingdom at its height c. 2340 BC.
Map detailing the Second Mariote Kingdom at its height c. 2290 BC.
Map detailing the approximate locations of regions and kingdoms that are known from Mesopotamian written evidence of the third millennium BC .
Some of the carnelian beads in this necklace from the Royal Tombs of Ur are thought to have come from the Indus Valley. [ 48 ]
Votive relief for the king Ur-Nanshe of Lagash , commemorating the construction of a temple.
Wall plaque from Ur , with image of a temple (lower right). Circa 2500 BCE. British Museum .
Funeral procession at the Royal Cemetery of Ur (items and positions in tomb PG 789), circa 2600 BCE (reconstitution).
Female statuette, with cup and bracelet, Khafajah , 2650-2550 BCE
Statuette of a man, Early Dynastic Period II, circa 2700 BC, Khafadje. Louvre Museum, reference AO 188886
Sumerian cylinder seal, ca. 2500–2350 BC. Early Dynastic IIIb.
The " Ram in a Thicket " statue found at the Royal Cemetery of Ur contains traded materials
Chlorite vase from Khafaje
Cylinder seal from the ED III period with its impression representing a mythological combat scene.
Cylinder seal and modern impression bull-man, bearded hero, and lion contest frieze, c. 2600–2350 B.C. Early Dynastic III
A Sumerian group of two separate shell inlay fragments forming the body and head of a sheep. Circa 27th - 24th Century BC. From a Mayfair gallery, London, UK.
Piece of inlay made of nacre , inscribed with the name of Akurgal , son of Ur-Nanshe of Lagash (currently in the Louvre ).
Narmer Palette
Narmer Palette
Pharaoh Ahmose I slaying a Hyksos
Pharaoh Ahmose I slaying a Hyksos
Tutankhamun
Tutankhamun
Taharqa
Taharqa
Seleukos I Nikator Tetradrachm from Babylon
Seleukos I Nikator Tetradrachm from Babylon
Coin of Ardashir I, Hamadan mint.
Coin of Ardashir I, Hamadan mint.