Middle Eastern archaeologist from the University of Sydney Dr Joseph ‘Seppi’ Lehner speaks to  Dr Craig Barker about a number of bronze and copper alloy objects in the Museum collection, recovered in the British Museum and University of Pennsylvania excavations at Ur in Iraq, directed by Sir Leonard Woolley in the 1920s and 1930s.

 

In particular they discuss a copper alloy axe head found in one of the tombs dating to the Early Dynastic period (c. 2900-2350 BC), and talk more broadly about archaeology in Mesopotamia, the ancient trade in metals and resources, and potential links between metal objects in Ur and the mines and production centres Seppi is excavating in Oman.

Object details: 

Copper-alloy axe, 2900–2350 BC, Iraq, donated by the British Museum 1935, Chau Chak Wing Museum, NM35.9.1

Guest: Dr Joseph ‘Seppi’ Lehner

Host: Dr Craig Barker, Head, Public Engagement, Chau Chak Wing Museum and Director, Paphos Theatre Archaeological Excavations. Follow @DrCraig_B on Twitter and Instagram.

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