The British Museum

Natufian culture 13000 BC - 7500 BC Palaeolithic+Near East

The Ain Sakhri lovers, from Ain Sakhri, Judea. Category: SculptureYear: 9000 BCMaterial: Carved stone (calcite cobble)Dimensions: 102 mm highAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 1958,1007.1Collection: The British Museum

Terracotta Female Head

Neolithic Cyprus 8800 BC - 3800 BC Neolithic+Near East

CYPRUS 7thC BC. Head of terracotta female figure. Category: SculptureMaterial: TerracottaDimensions: H9.5cmLocation: RhodesAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background clonedReference: BM 1864,1007.1270Collection: The British Museum

Half human figure

Ain Ghazal Culture 7250 BC - 5000 BC Neolithic+Near East

This example, known to the BM as Micah, is one of many from the Ain Ghazal cache. The eyes are painted with bitumen and there is a green mineral pigment residue, dioptase. Category: SculptureMaterial: Lime plaster, reed armatureLocation: Ain GhazalAttribution: Licence: [🡭]Reference: MicahCollection: The British Museum

Human figure

Ain Ghazal Culture 7250 BC - 5000 BC Neolithic+Near East

This example, known to the BM as Noah, is one of many from the Ain Ghazal cache. The eyes are painted with bitumen and there is a green mineral pigment residue, dioptase Category: SculptureMaterial: Lime plaster, reed armatureLocation: Ain GhazalAttribution: Licence: [🡭]Reference: NoahCollection: The British Museum

Human figure

Ain Ghazal Culture 7250 BC - 5000 BC Neolithic+Near East

This example, known to the BM as Heifa, is one of many from the Ain Ghazal cache. The eyes are painted with bitumen and there is a green mineral pigment residue, dioptase. Category: SculptureMaterial: Lime plaster, reed armatureLocation: Ain GhazalAttribution: Licence: [🡭]Reference: HeifaCollection: The British Museum

Female figure

Badari Culture 5000 BC - 4000 BC Neolithic+Egypt

Location G64/2 Category: SculptureMaterial: Hippopotamus ivoryDimensions: H 14 W 3.8 D 2.2 cm Weight: 114Location: El-BadariAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: EA59648Collection: The British Museum

Hippopotamus cosmetic jar

Badari Culture 5000 BC - 4000 BC Neolithic+Egypt

Location G64/2 Category: SculptureMaterial: Elephant ivoryDimensions: H 6 L 7.5 D 4.5 cm Weight: 89 grLocation: MostageddaAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Reference: EA63057Collection: The British Museum

Female figure

Naqada culture 4400 BC - 3000 BC Neolithic+Egypt

The earliest three-dimensional representations of humans from ancient Egypt have been found in graves of the Predynastic period, Naqada I, 4000-3600 BC. It is thought that their presence was to provide magical support for the owners rebirth and regeneration.(BM) Category: SculptureMaterial: Bone, lapis lazuliDimensions: 11.4cmLocation: NaqadaAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: EA 32141Collection: The British Museum

female figure with arms raised

Naqada culture 4400 BC - 3000 BC Neolithic+Egypt

Category: SculptureMaterial: ClayDimensions: H 24.5 W 9.5 cMAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: EA50678Collection: The British Museum

Sitting female votive figure

Naqada culture 4400 BC - 3000 BC Neolithic+Egypt

Limestone female votive figure in a seated position; beak-like face and hands to the breasts; red and black painted geometric decoration. Fake. (BM) FAKE?? Category: SculptureMaterial: LimestoneDimensions: H 31 W 17 L 25 cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: EA58064Collection: The British Museum

Carved Jar

Uruk period 4000 BC - 2900 BC Neolithic+Near East

Ancient+Mesopotamia

Egg shaped stone jar with flat base; carved with two lions attacking bulls, with a scale pattern in 3 rows indicating the ground below; the neck is lost; two holes drilled opposite one another in the shoulder suggest that the jar may have been suspended.Rim and neck broken off.(BM)Late Uruk Category: SculptureMaterial: GraniteDimensions: H 13.3cm Dia 8.25cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 128886Collection: The British Museum

Carved vessel with Lions and Bull

Uruk period 4000 BC - 2900 BC Neolithic+Near East

Ancient+Mesopotamia

Limestone cult vessel; miniature vase, supported by the figures of two lions cut in high relief which are attacking a bull.(BM) Warka, Late Uruk Category: SculptureMaterial: LimestoneDimensions: H 14.2cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Reference: 118361Collection: The British Museum

Carved head

Uruk period 4000 BC - 2900 BC Neolithic+Near East

Ancient+Mesopotamia

Alabaster head; could represent god, goddess or worshipper; a vertical groove at the back of the head, with nail holes on the sides, suggests that it was originally fixed to a pole.(BM)Late Uruk Category: SculptureMaterial: AlabasterDimensions: H 17cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Reference: 126460Collection: The British Museum

Eye Idol amulet

Uruk period 4000 BC - 2900 BC Neolithic+Near East

Ancient+Mesopotamia

Carved stone eye figurine; eye heavily emphasize; large figure with smaller one carved on body, possibly mother and child.(BM)Late Uruk Category: SculptureMaterial: StoneDimensions: L 1inAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background clonedReference: 126492Collection: The British Museum

Bowl sherd

Prepalatial Minoan 3500 BC - 1900 BC Ancient+Greece

Kamares pot Category: PotteryLocation: CnossusAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Reference: 1936,0901.12Collection: The British Museum

Female figure

1st Dynasty of Egypt 3100 BC - 2890 BC Ancient+Egypt

Location G64/6 Category: SculptureMaterial: LeadDimensions: H 5.9 W 2.4 D 1.5 cm Weight: 75Attribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background clonedReference: EA32138Collection: The British Museum

Stone mace head

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

Symbolic weapon deposited in a temple on behalf of a king(BM).From Girsu, Early Dynastic III, Telloh Category: SculptureMaterial: StoneDimensions: H 11.7 cm Diam 11 cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 23287Collection: The British Museum

Calcite statuette of man

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

With akkadian cuneiform inscription on back Category: SculptureAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 91667Collection: The British Museum

Female statue

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

Gypsum statue of woman; carved; eyes were originally inlaid; stands with clasped hands; wears mantle over left shoulder; deep kaunakes fringe at bottom; hair bound with fillet with broad mass each side of face; gathered into braid at the back. Category: SculptureMaterial: GypsumDimensions: H 22.54 cm W 9.3cm T 6.3cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 116666Collection: The British Museum

Statue of bald male

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

Gypsum statue of shaven man; carved; left shoulder and right elbows missing; has been broken and repaired at waist and neck; right shoulder bare; hands clasped on chest; dressed in kaunakes kilt.The authenticity of this has been questioned by E A Braun-Holzinger 1977: Frühdynastiche Beterstatuetten, p. 84 (cf. also O W Muscarella 2000a: The Lie Became Great, p. 159). The head appears to be modern.(BM) Category: SculptureMaterial: GypsumDimensions: H 29.3 cm W 13.4 at base T 12 cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 134300Collection: The British Museum

Foundation figure of bearded man

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

Copper alloy foundation figurine ending in cone; cast; bearded man with clasped hands on breast; no inscription.(BM)Early Dynastic III Category: SculptureDimensions: H 20.95 cm Wt 1297 gmsAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 102599Collection: The British Museum

Foundation figure of woman with basket

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

Copper alloy foundation figure of a basket bearer; cast; much corroded, inscription illegible.(BM) Early Dynastic III, Temple of Dimtabba Category: SculptureMaterial: Copper alloyDimensions: H 23.5 cm W 7 cm T 4 cm Wt 814 gAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background clonedReference: 118605Collection: The British Museum

Foundation figure of man

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

Copper alloy foundation figure of a man with clasped hands, bearded and with very long hair. Legs united in a point(BM). Early Dynastic III, Telloh Category: SculptureMaterial: Copper alloyDimensions: H 26 cm W 7.75 cm T 6 cm Wt 1860Attribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 91016Collection: The British Museum

Mosaic column

Sumer 2900 BC - 2124 BC Ancient+Mesopotamia

Mosaic column in two drums; restored; formed part of a group of architectural decorations; one of two columns, which may have been either side of temple(BM).Tell Al-Ubaid, Early Dynastic III Category: OrnamentMaterial: Copper, bitumen, mother-of-pearlDimensions: H 59 cm Dia 31cmAttribution: British Museum Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0[🡭]Image note: Background croppedReference: 115328Collection: The British Museum

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