Chlorite (dark green)
4000–3000 BCE
Iraq, Uruk
The British Museum
Details
Subtheme
How the Cities Traded
Display Location
Rotunda
Accession Number
116729 / 1925,0110.27
Description
Around the 2nd millennium BCE, Mesopotamia was already domesticating water buffaloes, as evidenced by a seal found in Iraq bearing the Harappan script-like signs. These buffaloes were likely brought from the Harappan region. Sumerian myths mention the multi-coloured ‘Haya’ bird. Supposed to hail from Meluhha (probably the Harappan region)—it probably refers to the peacock.