Sabine Klein, Andreas Hauptmann

Ur, Mesopotamia: The Lead Metal from Pit X

Introduction

Ur, mesopotamia: the lead metal from pit x. Geochemical analysis of lead from Ur, Mesopotamia (museum collections) reveals Anatolia, Turkey (Taurus ore deposits) as the likely mineral source.

Abstract

Three complete bottle-wrapped seal combinations were found in the various Ur collections: Two in the Penn Museum’s collection, and a third one in the Birmingham Museum’s collection from Ur. The two museums permitted the sampling of lead metal sheets in order to perform geochemical analysis. So far, the lead isotope signatures indicate that Turkey, more precisely Anatolia and the Taurus ore deposits, is the most likely mineral supplier for the lead metal from Ur.

Review

This study presents a focused investigation into the provenance of lead metal excavated from Ur, Mesopotamia, a topic of considerable interest for understanding ancient metallurgical practices and long-distance trade networks. Utilizing geochemical analysis on lead samples derived from three specific bottle-wrapped seal combinations, the authors offer a compelling preliminary identification of their origin. The core finding, indicating Anatolia, specifically the Taurus ore deposits in modern Turkey, as the most probable source for this lead, represents a significant contribution to our understanding of early Bronze Age resource procurement and interregional exchange. The methodological approach, centered on lead isotope signatures, is well-established and robust for provenance studies in archaeometallurgy. The collaboration between the Penn Museum and the Birmingham Museum to facilitate sampling is commendable and essential for such cross-institutional research. However, a significant point of clarification is needed regarding the specificity of the sample context: the title explicitly refers to "Pit X," yet the abstract broadly mentions samples from "various Ur collections" and "Ur collections," without any mention of Pit X. This discrepancy must be resolved to clearly define the archaeological context of the analyzed artifacts. Furthermore, while the abstract indicates "so far" results, implying ongoing work, the precise number of individual lead samples analyzed from the three seal combinations would strengthen the preliminary statement. Should these findings be substantiated with the necessary contextual clarifications, this research holds substantial implications for reconstructing economic and logistical connections between Mesopotamia and Anatolia during the period in question. It underscores the far-reaching extent of ancient supply chains for essential raw materials and invites further investigation into the mechanisms of trade, transportation, and political economy that facilitated such extensive movements of goods. The study paves the way for future research to analyze a broader range of lead artifacts from Ur and other Mesopotamian sites to ascertain if this Anatolian connection represents a widespread pattern or a more localized, context-specific procurement strategy. Overall, the work presents a valuable and promising step towards elucidating ancient Near Eastern resource networks.

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