The legend of the flower beads in the two river basins
In the exploration of ancient civilizations, archaeologists continue to uncover precious relics that profoundly shed light on the cultures, trades, and connections of the past.
Restoration of the city of your
Located in present-day southern Iraq, the city of your is an ancient and mysterious site, and the discovery of such agate beads and carnelian tube beads leads us to an ancient trading network that connected Mesopotamia to the Indus civilization.
The ziggurat of the city of your was built in the early Bronze Age (21st century BC)
The discovery of these relics provides us with a window into the exchange of ancient civilizations.
The miracle of the city of your
Located in the valley of the Two Rivers, the city of your is an important ancient city with a continuous cultural cascade that provides valuable insights into the ancient Sumerian civilization.
A full view of the excavation of the Royal Cemetery of your
At the beginning of the 20th century, archaeologists carried out large-scale excavations at the site of the city of your, and one of the most striking discoveries was the etched agate beads.
Wooden box with mosaic interior excavated in the royal necropolis of your 2600-2400 BC Collection of the British Museum
The beads date back to around 2600 BC, or even earlier, confirming the city's long history.
Mesopotamia's mystical connection to the Indus River
The flower-etched agate beads and carnelian tube beads excavated in the city of your have aroused great interest among scholars, as they are not local products.
Etched agate beads excavated from the tomb of PG 1133 in the Royal Cemetery of your, 2600-2500 BC
Instead, these gem materials originate in the Indus Valley, 1,500 miles away, and further afield in the mountains of Afghanistan. The presence of these materials is a clear indication of the ancient trade links between Mesopotamia and the Indus civilizations.
Oval long barrel-shaped etched red agate beads Early Sumerian Dynasty - Third Dynasty of your, c. 2600-1900 BC See collection of the Museum of Fine Arts
Some of these beads may have been made in the Indus Valley and then shipped to Mesopotamia, while the other part may have been made in Mesopotamia by Indus Valley artisans.
Gold necklace, etched carnelian, lapis lazuli, agate beads Third Dynasty of your, 2150-2000 BC British Museum
This trade link is associated with the "Meluha people" of the Indus Valley, who may have been artisans or merchants from the Indus Valley.
Oval long barrel-shaped etched red agate beads Early Sumerian Dynasty - Third Dynasty of your, c. 2600-1900 BC See collection of the Museum of Fine Arts
Their craftsmanship included special drilling techniques, and they may have injected new artistic elements into Mesopotamian culture.
The story behind the beads
Etched agate beads are not just gemstones, they are witnesses to culture, trade and religion. Etched agate beads with inscriptions are particularly striking because they convey the religious devotion and respect of the ancient people.
Necklace of carnelian beads 2600-2400 BC Royal Cemetery of your British Museum
For example, the Sumerian king of your, Shulgi, carved two carnelian beads to his deity.
Six barrel-shaped agate beads were excavated in the British Museum in the city of your, circa 2500 BC
These beads were made for religious purposes and condensed the profound connotations of religious beliefs at the time.
Cultural integration and technological innovation
The discovery of carnelian beads reveals signs of cultural convergence and technological innovation. The raw material of these beads, although sourced from the Indus Valley, is processed in Mesopotamia, showing traces of technology transfer.
Necklace of gold, lapis lazuli, carnelian and agate beads c. 2600-2340 BC excavated in Kish, Sumer
Mesopotamia, for example, traditionally inscribed religious devotions on gemstones, an ancient practice, while some designs and patterns are uncommon in the Indus Valley region.
String of Flowered Agate Beads 2400-2200 BC Royal Cemetery of your British Museum
This indicates that Mesopotamia has undergone some adaptation and technological innovation in the use and decoration of carnelian beads.
Queen Phubby's tiara, beaded hat and jewels 2500-2300 BC Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Pennsylvania
In addition, there are some typical Mesopotamian designs found on the etched agate beads found in Mesopotamia that are unique to the Indus region, such as stepped patterns, guilloché designs, or Mesopotamian sun symbols.
乌尔考古遗址出土的蚀花玛瑙珠（来源：Horace C. Beck. Etched Carnelian Beads，The Antiquaries Journal 1933.）
This once again indicates the existence of workshops in Mesopotamia that focused on the creation of indigenous etched agate bead designs, with unique technological innovations.
Jewels with elements of the Indus, Central Asia and northeastern Iran found in Susa, the Akkadian Empire or the Third Dynasty of your Louvre Museum
This process is the product of cultural fusion and technological transfer, bringing together elements from two different regions to create new artistic styles and technical characteristics.
epilogue
The etched agate beads of the city of your are an archaeological discovery of profound historical significance. Not only do they provide us with trade links between ancient Mesopotamia and the Indus civilizations, but they also show evidence of cultural integration and technological innovation.
String of carnelian beads 2600-2500 BC Royal Cemetery of your British Museum
These beads are not only exquisite ornaments, but also witnesses in time, building bridges between ancient civilizations and helping us better understand the world of the past.
Carnelian beads were excavated in Nipur, Mesopotamia, 2900-2350 BC
To learn more about the world's ancient culture and beadwork art, please pay attention to [Yujian Art Museum]
Bibliography:
Zhu Xiaoli.Chapter 1 Eclipse Agate in the East Indus Valley.Himalayan Dzi.Guangxi Fine Arts Publishing House.202011