Information Storage Devices (Post Uruk III Period)
Apr 10, 2009 3:09:17 GMT -5
Post by us4-he2-gal2 on Apr 10, 2009 3:09:17 GMT -5
Thread Orientation: This thread is an auxillery to the Glazed Steatite Style (G.S.S) thread, and aims to explain other type of seals and "information storage devices" in use at that same juncture.
Information Storage Devices
(Post Uruk Period)
As mentioned on the G.S.S. thread, this particular sort of seal did not come into use until just after the end of the Uruk III period. Their emergence corresponds with the development of the new proto-Elamite script based in Susa and the Iranian highlands (that script followed closely the Uruk script and was its successor.) The G.S.S. however also spread west into Mesopotamia proper.
In order to frame the Glazed Steatite Style, the author has briefly examined devices that store information (script or images) in Susa/Iran or in Mesopotamia itself. The seals themselves contain the information, of course the images are carved into them - but what is meant by "storage device" is the materials on which this information is imprinted: the seal is rolled onto sometihng, usually clay, and the information is stored on that clay. The stored information to be stored in these clay forms includes "prominently the symbol systems of the Uruk III, and proto-Elamite script and systems of imagery used in various styles of glyptic art."
Pillow-shaped Tablets/
Location: Uruk/Susa/Godin Tepe/Nineveh
Description: "These Pillow-shaped tablets belong typographically with tablets inscribed with a few signs; all have terminus ante quem of Level IVa...numerical signs were impressed across the horizontal
axis of the tablet."
Imprinted with G.S.S: None
Tablets Inscribed with Proto-Elamite Script/
Location: Susa, Tall-i Malyan, Tepe Yahya, Shahr-i Sokhta, Tepe Sialk, Tepe Hassar
Description: 1400 Found at Susa, proto-Elamite script written from right to left. 250 of these inscribed with seals , always before tablet was inscribed. Of these only three were impressed with glazed steatite seals.
Imprinted with G.S.S.: 3
Tablets Inscribed with Uruk IVa and III Signs/
Location: Jemdat Nasr
Description: In the post Uruk period, some tablets in Jemdat Nasr continued to the "classic Late Uruk style" script, some 200 have been found. On of these tablets was imprinted with a "particularly fine glazed steatite style seal".
Imprinted with G.S.S.: 1
Lenticular Tablets/
Location: Susa
Description: Circular in shape with biconical section. Impressed with signs similar to signs in proto-Elamite script and images in classic style proto-Elamite seals.
Imprinted with G.S.S: 0
Hollow Clay Balls/
Location: Uruk (to lesser extent some cities in the Jemdat Nasr and ED I and proto-Elamite contexts).
Description: "Seal-impressed hollow clay spheres ranging in diameter from under 10 to more than 20 cms, some of which enveleoped clay tokens..."
Imprinted with G.S.S: 0
Door Locks/
Location: Uruk, Susa, etc.
Description: "A peg, square or round, was inserted into the wall. A second peg was secured in the door to be locked. A cord was wrapped between the pegs that prevented the door from being opened. A lump of clay was pressed against both the peg and the wall and the second peg and the door. Each clay lump was then impressed by a seal, usually a cylinder, more rarely a stamp....the door could not be opened without cutting the cord or breaking the seal."
Imprinted with G.S.S: In certain points. Glazed Steatite Seals were the main sort of seal for use on the locks.
Wall Locks or Labels/
Location: Susa and Iranian Highlands and ?
Description: "flat oval or sub-rectangular slab of sealing clay that is on average 10 to 15 mm. thickness and up to 15 cm. length. They are carefully impressed, usually once, by a cylinder seal rolled across the long axis... the feature most suggestive of their function is the presence of wall plater on the backs of the majority of these sealings..[one possible function of these wall seals may have been] to have sealed bricks used to close up an opening to a room being used for long term storage." Author states appear only in close association with the proto-Elamite script, and preserve G.S.S seals found in the proto-Elamite sphere.
Imprinted with G.S.S: frequently.
Jar Stoppers/
Location: Susa, Nineveh, ?
Description: "Jar Stoppers were masses of clay placed within or over the mouth of a jar... these conical stoppers were not normally impressed with seals..." However, a second type of stopper, called slab-type jar stopper "were made of larger slabs of clay that fitted over the mouths of jars that first had been covered by cloth of leather. This type of jar stopper is usually impressed with a seal".
Imprinted with G.S.S: Yes.
Basket Sealings/
Location: Susa, proto-Elamite sites, Nineveh
Description: Mounded clay lumps placed over a rope that tied the basket shut. Identified in modern times "through impressions of woven reeds on their base."
Imprinted with G.S.S: Most examples from Nineveh
Information Storage Devices
(Post Uruk Period)
As mentioned on the G.S.S. thread, this particular sort of seal did not come into use until just after the end of the Uruk III period. Their emergence corresponds with the development of the new proto-Elamite script based in Susa and the Iranian highlands (that script followed closely the Uruk script and was its successor.) The G.S.S. however also spread west into Mesopotamia proper.
In order to frame the Glazed Steatite Style, the author has briefly examined devices that store information (script or images) in Susa/Iran or in Mesopotamia itself. The seals themselves contain the information, of course the images are carved into them - but what is meant by "storage device" is the materials on which this information is imprinted: the seal is rolled onto sometihng, usually clay, and the information is stored on that clay. The stored information to be stored in these clay forms includes "prominently the symbol systems of the Uruk III, and proto-Elamite script and systems of imagery used in various styles of glyptic art."
1. Tablets and Hollow Balls
Pillow-shaped Tablets/
Location: Uruk/Susa/Godin Tepe/Nineveh
Description: "These Pillow-shaped tablets belong typographically with tablets inscribed with a few signs; all have terminus ante quem of Level IVa...numerical signs were impressed across the horizontal
axis of the tablet."
Imprinted with G.S.S: None
Tablets Inscribed with Proto-Elamite Script/
Location: Susa, Tall-i Malyan, Tepe Yahya, Shahr-i Sokhta, Tepe Sialk, Tepe Hassar
Description: 1400 Found at Susa, proto-Elamite script written from right to left. 250 of these inscribed with seals , always before tablet was inscribed. Of these only three were impressed with glazed steatite seals.
Imprinted with G.S.S.: 3
Tablets Inscribed with Uruk IVa and III Signs/
Location: Jemdat Nasr
Description: In the post Uruk period, some tablets in Jemdat Nasr continued to the "classic Late Uruk style" script, some 200 have been found. On of these tablets was imprinted with a "particularly fine glazed steatite style seal".
Imprinted with G.S.S.: 1
Lenticular Tablets/
Location: Susa
Description: Circular in shape with biconical section. Impressed with signs similar to signs in proto-Elamite script and images in classic style proto-Elamite seals.
Imprinted with G.S.S: 0
Hollow Clay Balls/
Location: Uruk (to lesser extent some cities in the Jemdat Nasr and ED I and proto-Elamite contexts).
Description: "Seal-impressed hollow clay spheres ranging in diameter from under 10 to more than 20 cms, some of which enveleoped clay tokens..."
Imprinted with G.S.S: 0
2. Closing or Locking Devices
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Door Locks/
Location: Uruk, Susa, etc.
Description: "A peg, square or round, was inserted into the wall. A second peg was secured in the door to be locked. A cord was wrapped between the pegs that prevented the door from being opened. A lump of clay was pressed against both the peg and the wall and the second peg and the door. Each clay lump was then impressed by a seal, usually a cylinder, more rarely a stamp....the door could not be opened without cutting the cord or breaking the seal."
Imprinted with G.S.S: In certain points. Glazed Steatite Seals were the main sort of seal for use on the locks.
Wall Locks or Labels/
Location: Susa and Iranian Highlands and ?
Description: "flat oval or sub-rectangular slab of sealing clay that is on average 10 to 15 mm. thickness and up to 15 cm. length. They are carefully impressed, usually once, by a cylinder seal rolled across the long axis... the feature most suggestive of their function is the presence of wall plater on the backs of the majority of these sealings..[one possible function of these wall seals may have been] to have sealed bricks used to close up an opening to a room being used for long term storage." Author states appear only in close association with the proto-Elamite script, and preserve G.S.S seals found in the proto-Elamite sphere.
Imprinted with G.S.S: frequently.
Jar Stoppers/
Location: Susa, Nineveh, ?
Description: "Jar Stoppers were masses of clay placed within or over the mouth of a jar... these conical stoppers were not normally impressed with seals..." However, a second type of stopper, called slab-type jar stopper "were made of larger slabs of clay that fitted over the mouths of jars that first had been covered by cloth of leather. This type of jar stopper is usually impressed with a seal".
Imprinted with G.S.S: Yes.
Basket Sealings/
Location: Susa, proto-Elamite sites, Nineveh
Description: Mounded clay lumps placed over a rope that tied the basket shut. Identified in modern times "through impressions of woven reeds on their base."
Imprinted with G.S.S: Most examples from Nineveh