Collection Item – Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

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From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleCylinder seal

About this objectEngraved blue cylinder seal, possibly steatite or faience. The cylinder has a hole through the centre, as seals were often worn as a necklaces. The top section is missing.

Seals could also be used as administrative tools. When seals were impressed on tablets or tablet cases the seal impressions served to identify the authority responsible for what was written in the documents, much as a signature does today. This particular example uses the impression created within the hollowed areas rather than the one created using the raised areas.

PeriodNabatean

Place NotesPossibly from Jordan.

Style and IconographyNabatean

TechniqueCarving (processes)

Measurements24 x 10 mm

Subject and Association KeywordsWriting, history

Subject and Association KeywordsWriting and art

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Object TypeInformation Artifacts

Object number202.04