Some Akkadian pottery is very similar to the Early Dynasty of Ur, except for wavy line inscribed decoration, rope patterns and some distinctive jar forms. In addition ritual troughs have been discovered dated 2,400-2,200 BC. They are in cream pottery with high relief snakes and scorpions on the sides. Another interesting pottery use was for models of buildings that were decorated with models of animals and birds, again dated to 2,400-2,200 BC. There were also high-fired earthenware vessels such as bowls, regarded as luxury wares, dated around 2,250 BC. In Syria in the north, some vessels had a bulbous lower half with the top as a depiction of a human figure, painted overall white, dated 2,400-2,000 BC. The Akkadians also made pottery stamps to impress a symbolic message on bricks; one in the British Museum is dated to 2,240 BC. Wall cones inscribed on their stems were also produced. Cylinder seals reached a peak of perfection during the Akkadian period, with carefully spaced figures rather than the previous closely woven designs.

Akkadian serpentine seal and impression -
source Iraq Museum and “Green jasper
cylinder seal in Babylonian style with
horned man and lion, cuneiform inscription
UC79491 - Copyright of the Petrie Museum
of Egyptian Archaeology, UCL

An interesting discovery is the impression in clay of a seal representing a foreign expedition dated to 2,300 BC. Around 2,500 BC, before the start of the Akkad period, cuneiform writing had developed and matured to become syllabic, that is to represent syllables. Now it was predominantly used for the Akkadian language.

Akkadian cuneiform script

A hexagonal terracotta cuneiform school text has been found dating to 2,250 BC.

Sargon’s great-grandson ruled the Akkad Empire until 2,193 BC. Although the Dynasty continued with decreasing power for several more decades, by 2,150 BC, due to internal strife, perhaps climate induced, Sumer had reverted to independent city-states vying for control. At about this time the river valleys were overrun by mountain tribes (Gutians) from Northern Iran who sacked Agade and took control of most of the region for the next 50 years. However, the Gutians were not capable of forming a central government so individual city-states were given significant independence. In particular one city-state, Lagash, remained aloof from the conflict and continued the previous traditions.

9.31 Third Dynasty of Ur (2,112-2,004 BC)

During the Akkadian rule and that of the Gutians, Ur remained an important city. So when the brother of Ur Nammu overthrew the Gutians and freed Uruk, he made Ur Nammu governor of Ur. Ur Nammu went on to defeat Lagesh, thereby diverting trade to Ur, giving it more power. Ur grew to a population of up to 10,000 people. At this time Mesopotamia contained several ethnic groups including Sumerians, Akkadians and Amorites, together with Hurrians in the north. Ur Nammu became King of Ur and reigned for 18 years from about 2,112 to 2095 BC. He founded the Third Dynasty of Ur and brought about a revival of Sumerian Culture in South Mesopotamia, including the Sumerian language. This is made clear on two 12-inch long clay cylinders that were found containing 1363 lines of a hymn in Sumerian describing the reconstruction of a temple during this period. A large number of clay tablets were found, many relating to trade, containing inscriptions such as “4 plough oxen at seven and a half shekels each”.

Cuneiform tablets, Sumerian 2,038 BC; one
relating to UR Nammu 2,113-2,095 BC - both
courtesy Ifergan Collection and Sumerian
Ur III 2,141-2,004 BC source
Archaeological Museum Istanbul

The Cultural revival outlasted his Dynasty, continuing for some 4 centuries. Ur Nammu’s Empire covered a significant territory in present Iraq, about half the size of the previous Akkadian Empire, although he exercised considerable influence over Western Iran and to Byblos in the west. City States such as Ashur were provincial capitals. In Syrian Meshrifeh there was a Sumerian colony and temples, and the law was based on Sumerian principles. At about this time the two-wheeled chariot appeared, a much more agile fighting machine than the previous four wheeled “war wagon”, and this had a significant impact in subsequent battles. This two-wheeled chariot started as a marriage between the Steppe horse and the farm cart, in the Western Steppes, and appeared in the Middle East with other new military technology. However, Ur Nammu sent out many trade missions and tried peaceful methods of co-existence, including intermarriage, before force.