Ur
Urim · Tell el-Muqayyar · Tall al-Muqayyar
Ubaid to Persian (c.3800 BCE–300 BCE; Early Dynastic/Ur III peak 2600–2000 BCE)·Sumerian / Akkadian / Babylonian / Persian·🇮🇶 Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq
About
About Ur
Sumerian city-state of the moon god Nanna (Sîn), Ur famous for Woolley's excavations 1922–34: Ziggurat of Ur-Nammu (2112 BCE) best-preserved ziggurat, Royal Cemetery with Standard of Ur, Pu-abi's jewellery, Royal Game of Ur, and 1,840 deaths' retainer sacrifices. Also biblical Ur of the Chaldees. Part of Ahwar of Southern Iraq WHS 2016.
Why it mattersGreatest Early Dynastic royal cemetery; best early ziggurat
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Interpretation of Royal Cemetery's death pits – voluntary retainer sacrifice vs later killing?
- 02Uran maritime trade extent to Dilmun and Indus
Theories
- 01Standard of Ur depicts war/peace duality of kingship (Moorey)
- 02Ziggurat's 1990s Saddam reconstruction damaged authentic fabric
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Obeid village 3800 BCE; walled city 3000 BCE; ziggurat 2112–2095 BCE by Ur-Nammu
- Period
- Ubaid to Persian (c.3800 BCE–300 BCE; Early Dynastic/Ur III peak 2600–2000 BCE)
- Culture
- Sumerian / Akkadian / Babylonian / Persian
- Purpose
- Sumerian religious capital and Gulf port controlling Mesopotamian maritime trade
- Excavation
- Excavation ongoing
Obeid village 3800 BCE; walled city 3000 BCE; ziggurat 2112–2095 BCE by Ur-Nammu
Initial construction
c. 1024 CE
Rediscovery
On the ground
Structures & features
30.9616° N · 46.1051° E · 18 m · 3 mapped features
Ziggurat of Ur-Nammu
ziggurat60×45 m terraced ziggurat, 3 stages, 30 m high, dedicated to Nanna
30.9625° N · 46.1030° ERoyal Cemetery
necropolis16 royal tombs PG800 etc with death pits and grave goods
30.9620° N · 46.1055° EHouse Area (AH)
residentialOld Babylonian residential quarter with tablet archives
30.9605° N · 46.1045° E
Gallery