The Standard of Ur

This artifact was so named by Leonard Woolley. the archeologist that found it. It was found near the shoulder of a man, as if it was being carried on a pole like a battle standard. It is a hollow box and its original function is not yet known. It was found in a grave that had been thoroughly robbed in antiquity. The mosaic is made of incised shell, red limestone and lapis lazuli inlay. The wooden structure had been crushed, but Woolley was able to preserve the mosaic using wax. He then painstakingly reconstructed it to what you see here. The mosaic portrays martial scenes and dates to 2500 BC.