Excavated by the English archaeologist Henry Hall in 1919, the frieze is one of the largest metal sculptures to survive from ancient Mesopotamia and is now preserved in the British Museum.

[1] The sculpture was discovered in 1919 at the base of a temple foundation made from mud and brick at the isolated Sumerian site of Tell al-'Ubaid, close to the ancient city of Ur in southern Iraq.

Based on where it was originally found, it has been suggested that the copper panel was located above the temple door, in full view of the congregation.

[2] This impressive metal relief was found in a parlous state and had to be heavily restored by conservators afters its discovery.

The central figure in the restored lintel shows the lion-headed eagle Imdugud who is the symbol of the god Ningirsu.