The Field Museum-Oxford University

Expedition to Kish, Mesopotamia

1923-1929

BY

HENRY FIELD
Assistant Curator of Physical Anthropology

14 Plates in Photogravure and 2 Maps

Anthropology
Leaflet 28

FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CHICAGO

1929

The Anthropological Leaflets of Field Museum are designed to
give brief, non-technical accounts of some of the more interesting
beliefs, habits and customs of the races whose life is illustrated
in the Museum's exhibits.

LIST OF ANTHROPOLOGICAL LEAFLETS ISSUED TO DATE

1. The Chinese Gateway (Laufer) $ .10

2. The Philippine Forge Group (Cole) 10

3. The Japanese Collections (Gunsaulus) 25

4. New Guinea Masks (Lewis) 25

5. The Thunder Ceremony of the Pawnee (Linton) . .25

6. The Sacrifice to the Morning Star by the

Skidi Pawnee (Linton) 10

7. Purification of the Sacred Bundles, a Ceremony

of the Pawnee (Linton) 10

8. Annual Ceremony of the Pawnee Medicine Men

(Linton) 10

9. The Use of Sago in New Guinea (Lewis) 10

10. Use of Human Skulls and Bones in Tibet (Laufer) .10

11. The Japanese New Year's Festival, Games and

Pastimes (Gunsaulus) 25

12. Japanese Costume (Gunsaulus) 25

13. Gods and Heroes of Japan (Gunsaulus) 25

14. Japanese Temples and Houses (Gunsaulus) ... .25

15. Use of Tobacco among North American Indians

(Linton) 25

16. Use of Tobacco in Mexico and South America

(Mason) 25

17. Use of Tobacco in New Guinea (Lewis) 10

18. Tobacco and Its Use in Asia (Laufer) 25

19. Introduction of Tobacco into Europe (Laufer) . . .25

20. The Japanese Sword and Its Decoration . . .

(Gunsaulus) 25

21. Ivory in China (Laufer) 75

22. Insect- Musicians and Cricket Champions of

China (Laufer) 50

23. Ostrich Egg-shell Cups of Mesopotamia and the

Ostrich in Ancient and Modern Times
(Laufer) 50

24. The Indian Tribes of the Chicago Region with

Special Reference to the Illinois and the
Potawatomi (Strong) 25

25. Civilization of the Mayas (Thompson) 75

26. Early History of Man (Field) 25

27. The Giraffe in History and Art (Laufer) 75

28. The Field Museum - Oxford University Expedition

to Kish, Mesopotamia 1923-1929 (Field) . . .50

STEPHEN C. SIMMS, Director
FIELD MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
CHICAGO. U. S. A.

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Field Museum of Natural History

DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
Chicago, 1929

Leaflet Number 28
Copyright 1929 by Field Museum op Natural History

The Field Museum-Oxford University

Expedition to Kish, Mesopotamia

1923-1929

CONTENTS

Page

Introduction 3

The Temple Emete-ursag 5

Work During the Season 1923-24 6

Work During the Season 1924-25 7

Work during the Season 1925-26 9

Work at Jemdet Nasr 1926 11

Work during the Season 1926-27 14

Work during the Season 1927-28 17

Work at Jemdet Nasr March, 1928 22

Close of the Season 23

Work During the Season 1928-29 23

Methods and Technique of Excavation 25

Bibliographical References 33

Sometime Members of the Scientific Staff 1923-29. . . 34

Financial Supporters of the Expedition 34

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EXCAVATIONS AT KISH— 1923-1929

INTRODUCTION

The ancient city of Kish lies between the Tigris and
Euphrates rivers, about one hundred miles to the south
of Baghdad, and eight miles to the east of the ruins of
Babylon (see Map), which border the eastern bank of
the present bed of the river Euphrates.

The modern town of Hillah stands on both banks of
the Euphrates about two miles to the south of Babylon,
and is a typical small Arab town, where the necessities of
life can be purchased in the market. A poor desert track,
which is impassable after heavy rains, leads to Kish.
Leaving the palm-trees, which fringe both banks of the
river, the visitor continues along this track over numerous
small canal bridges for several miles, until in the distance
looms the great temple-tower of western Kish, known to
the modern Arabs as Tell el-Uhaimir because of the red
color of the soil. Many attempts at agriculture are in
progress on both sides of the track, and there is a compli-
cated net-work of canals. After crossing the Shatt en-Nil
canal one approaches the ruins of Kish, which according
to tradition was the first city founded after the Biblical
flood.

The ancient city was over five miles in length and
nearly two miles in width, divided into eastern and western
Kish by the river Euphrates, which at an early date
changed its course to flow in its present channel eight
miles to the west near the desolate mounds of Babylon.
The great Ziggurat of Tell el-Uhaimir stands in western
Kish and the vast complex of mounds called Inghara dom-
inate the eastern part of the city. The entire plain is
dotted with mounds of varying sizes, whose surfaces are
covered with fragments of pottery. Generally speaking,

4 Field Museum of Natural History

all the mounds to the east of Kish as far as the river
Tigris, which is about twenty miles distant, show evidences
of a former occupation. The small, but historically impor-
tant mound of Jemdet Nasr lies eighteen miles to the
northeast of Kish.

The first European traveler who visited and wrote a
description of the ruins of Kish was J. S. Buckingham,
who toward the end of July, 1816 accompanied by Mr.
Bellino, secretary of the British Residency at Baghdad,
left that city to visit Babylon. Following the exaggerated
description of the extent of the city of Babylon, as given
by Herodotus, they continued in an easterly direction
until they reached the Ziggurat of Tell el-Uhaimir, which
they imagined to be part of the city of Babylon. Bucking-
ham recorded the numerous mounds which he visited, and
expressed a particular interest in the great red Ziggurat.

Jules Oppert, the celebrated assyriologist, led an official
expedition to Babylon in the year 1852, and conducted
some minor excavations on the site of the city of Kish.
He reported the discovery of important objects, which
unfortunately were lost in the Tigris River. As there is
no published account of his excavations, no satisfactory
information regarding them can be obtained. For more
than fifty years Kish remained untouched by explorers and
almost unmentioned by scholars.

The Abbe* H. de Genouillac excavated there in 1912
for a few months, and the report of his work has recently
been published. It is still possible to see the trenches which
he made near the smaller of the two temple-towers at
Inghara.

In the spring of 1922, Mr. Herbert Weld expressed a
desire to excavate some ancient Babylonian site, and he
chose the ruins of Kish as offering the most important
site for excavation. With the cooperation of Field Museum
of Natural History, a joint expedition was formed, with
Professor Stephen Langdon of Oxford University as

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 5

director. Permission to excavate in the Kish area was
granted under the local Antiquities Law by the late Miss
Gertrude Bell, at that time Honorary Director of Antiquities
of Iraq, which is a British Mandated Territory. Since that
date from November to March every year, the expedition
has continued work on a large scale.

During the first season the members of the expedition
lived under canvas and built several mud huts to serve as
a museum and living rooms. The first excavations were
commenced in the area at the base of Tell el-Uhaimir.
The camp was pitched a few hundred feet to the south of
this Ziggurat. Since that time an additional series of mud
huts have been built to house the scientific staff of the
expedition, and various rooms for equipment have been
added.

THE TEMPLE EMETE-URSAG

During the first season, February to May, 1923, when
Mr. Ernest Mackay was alone in the field, the temple area
at Uhaimir (see Plan) was the object of the principle exca-
vations. Work was begun on the southeastern side of the
Ziggurat and on the south side of the Temenos area. The
outer Temenos wall was traced nearly half way along the
southern side. A great bastion built against the southern
platform of the temple was uncovered. The peculiar
T-shaped alcoves which break the flat surface of the wall
are the same mural designs found on the outer Temenos
wall at Ur. A corridor ran around the entire base of the
Ziggurat and connected with rooms built into the thick
wall. This distribution of the rooms or cells for the various
orders of the priests of Emete-ursag seems to introduce a
new element into our knowledge of Babylonian archi-
tecture. Several rooms on the northeastern side of the
stage tower were excavated in the hope of locating the
central shrine of the temple of Ilbaba, which lies northeast
of the stage tower. A deep trench was sunk in the middle
of the court to a depth of twenty-five feet when traces of

6 Field Museum of Natural History

the pre-Sargonic plano-convex walls appeared, together
with three fragments of black and white incised pottery.
The decoration on the pottery consists of parallel bands
and aquatic animals, which agrees in these two respects
with the black incised ware of Telloh and Sumer. It
belongs to the period about 3000 B.C. and is attributed to
the second period of painted ware found at Susa.

WORK DURING THE SEASON 1923-24

In the late autumn of the same year Professor Langdon,
Mr. Ernest Mackay, and Colonel W. H. Lane formed the
scientific staff of the expedition. Work was begun in the
region of the Ziggurat of Tell el-Uhaimir, but was soon
transferred to cemetery "A", south of Tell Inghara. These
low and unimportant-looking mounds proved to contain a
building of early Sumerian architectural design upon a
grand scale. The great outer court of this palace, with its
wide sweep of alcoved walls, fine flights of stairs, and
imposing row of pillars, was revealed during that season.

Among the more important objects excavated was a
plaque showing the return of the conquering king of Kish.
A number of inlaid figures, belonging to a series of plaques
which represented rural and other scenes, were also found.
The figures which are made of pure white limestone reveal
a Sumerian art of great elegance and show that Sumerian
artistic genius had been underestimated. Nearly all of the
objects represent domestic animals, but certain numbers
in the series were clearly devoted to religious scenes.

Burials of the pre-Sargonic period were found in con-
siderable numbers in this palace. They were, in nearly all
cases, earth burials. No cist graves were found there. In
only two cases were traces of matting found around the
body. These burials seem to have been made on the site
after it had been abandoned ; and this being the case, the
building must have been derelict about five thousand
years ago. The bodies lay invariably parallel to the walls,

LEAFLET 28

PLATE IV

■■■■■■

NORTHWESTERN ENTRANCE TO THE TEMPLE OF NABONIDUS

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 7

which determined their orientation, but there was no
rule about the position of the body.

The pottery, copper implements, and seals found there
would suggest a period anterior to Sargon.

Simultaneously with this work, Professor Langdon
commenced excavations with four gangs in mound "W"
(see Plan) with the object of locating inscribed tablets
which he knew must exist near the large temple-complex
of Tell Inghara. He discovered part of an important
library below ruins belonging to the Neo-Babylonian
period. Numerous tablets (Plate X) bearing syllabaries
and religious texts were uncovered; but, since most of the
tablets were unbaked, they were nearly always in a frag-
mentary condition, and had to be excavated with the
greatest care and skill. Professor Langdon used a solution
of celluloid as a preservative for the broken fragments of
tablets, which were dried and brushed before shipment to
the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford, where they were baked
and cleaned. Professor Langdon is publishing the trans-
lations of the tablets in the "Oxford Editions of Cuneiform
Texts."

Numerous sun-dried clay coffins which contained
Neo-Babylonian ornaments, and statuettes belonging
to the later periods were found.

WORK DURING THE SEASON 1924-25

Mr. Ernest Mackay, field director and excavator, was
during the season assisted by Mr. Talbot Rice as physical
anthropologist, and Father Eric Burrows as assyriologist.
The latter took the place of Professor Langdon whose
professional duties prevented his absence from the
University. Work was concentrated on completing
the excavation of the early Sumerian palace partially
excavated a year previously, and an extensive research in
the vast city ruins of eastern Kish, where remarkable

8 Field Museum op Natural History

discoveries of cuneiform tablets and objects illustrating
the daily life of the Babylonians at the time of Nebuchad-
nezzar had been made during the early part of 1924.

The great "hall of columns" was excavated north of
the main courtyard. A rich harvest of copper utensils,
gold jewels and ornaments of precious stones rewarded the
excavators in this great Sumerian palace. Copper mirrors
and hair-pins tipped with lapis-lazuli knobs, as well as
copper toilet-cases containing manicure sets of pincers,
tongs, and nail files, together with paint dishes and remains
of brushes for coloring lips, cheeks, and eyebrows, afford
an intimate glimpse into the boudoir of a Sumerian lady.

These mounds seemed to have formed part of a large
cemetery. The graves were simple holes of just sufficient
size to take the body and funeral furniture. Owing to the
compact nature of the soil, due to dampness and salt, it
was impossible to distinguish between the filling of a
grave and its surrounding walls. In a few cases the graves
were roughly lined with bricks laid on their edges. It
would seem that the graves were dug to no particular
depth. The average depth, however, was about one and
one-half meters. As none of the workmen could tell when
they were coming to a grave, the rule was made that when
pottery was encountered, they were to clear to the same
level for some distance around. The large-handled brazier
types of pottery were in most cases found in an upright
position, and thereby assisted greatly in the location of
graves without damaging the contents.

In the absence of any rule as to the orientation of the
body, it is implied that the relatives of the deceased had
no idea as to the direction in which the soul of the dead
man was suppose to go. The lower limbs in most of the
graves were in a semi-contracted position, these rarely
being above the level of the pelvis. No attempt had been
made to arrange the legs after the body was placed in the
grave. No remains of clothing were found, although care-

LEAFLET 28

PLATE V

«

TWO CHARIOT WHEELS
Just exposed after excavation. Note the animal skeletons above

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 9

ful search was made. The dampness of the soil would
speedily have destroyed both linen and leather. The con-
clusion, however, that the clothing had once covered the
bodies in the grave becomes certain from the fact that the
round silver ornaments found in five of the burials were
perforated with small holes to facilitate sewing them on to
a garment of some kind. It was almost impossible to
preserve the human bones, owing to the dampness of the
soil, which had rendered the bones exceedingly fragile.

The "A" cemetery proved very rich in copper imple-
ments and tools, some of which are quite new in form.
They were in excellent state of preservation, especially
those from undisturbed graves. Two vessels of lead were
found in the cemetery, as well as several melted fragments
in several parts of Kish in buildings of the earlier type of
plano-convex brick. Comparatively few silver objects
were found, although the thin silver handle of a dagger
and various objects of jewelry came to light. Not a single
article of gold nor any trace of gold was found in any of
the graves, despite the fact that it was found in graves
belonging to earlier periods. It is probable that any articles
made from this metal were stolen when the graves were
robbed in ancient times. There were no stone vessels
in any of the graves, but broken fragments were found
in the same site at various levels. A rare object found in
one of the graves was a cup, which had been made from an
ostrich-shell, by cutting about one-third of the shell away
and roughly smoothing the edge. The ostrich is still found
in the Arabian desert, and is highly prized among the
Beduin sheikhs (see Leaflet 23).

WORK DURING THE SEASON 1925-26

During part of the season 1925-26, Professor Langdon
continued his important excavations in the library area
of mound "W", where he obtained hundreds of tablets,
which throw much light on the later phases of the Neo-
Babylonian period.

10 Field Museum of Natural History

Toward the end of 1925 and during the early part of
1926 the expedition was joined by Mr. L. H. Dudley
Buxton, Reader in Physical Anthropology at Oxford Uni-
versity, and by myself, who was eager to study some phases
of the work of excavation and more particularly to exca-
vate the human skeletal material, which would contribute
to solve some of the early racial problems. We uncovered
the first complete Sumerian skeleton which had been found
up to that time at Kish. Further, we measured anthro-
pometrically about fifty of the workmen and about one
hundred of the members of the Iraq army located at the
Hillah Army Camp. These statistics were used for a com-
parison of the physical characteristics of the present
inhabitants of this area with the earliest inhabitants of
Kish, who lived there some 5,000 years earlier. While these
figures gave important indications, it was found to be neces-
sary to increase the numbers of both series very con-
siderably before any definite deductions could be drawn.

Meanwhile, Mr. Mackay with eighteen gangs, was
attacking the southernmost extremity of the temple-
complex of Harsagkalemma — dedicated to the Earth
Goddess — lying on the western side of the larger Ziggurat
of Tell Inghara (Plate I). A large platform or Temenos
wall was laid bare. Numerous pottery vessels and small
objects were unearthed. The area, which was predicted to
contain the important temple-buildings, is extremely
large, and it was thought that about ten seasons of exca-
vations would be required to remove this entire complex
of mounds down to water level.

Work was commenced with one hundred and fifty
workmen at plain level on the southwestern side of the
largest Ziggurat. The walls of a large temple, which had
been partially refaced in the time of Sargon, about 2750
B.C., were uncovered. Another building which was brought
to light was a temple of the Nebuchadnezzar period with
walls standing eighteen feet high. This is one of the best
preserved buildings in Mesopotamia.

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 11

Walls of another building of the period of Hammurabi
(2100 B.C.) were found beneath this temple. It was sug-
gested that there might be earlier buildings at still lower
levels. In the debris of the massive temple mound north-
west of the stage tower was discovered a sculptured torso
with feet and pedestal broken away, the head unfortun-
ately lost. The statue is draped with a long embroidered
mantle hung from the left shoulder and looped over the
left arm. On the right shoulder is engraved an inscription
in seven lines, the signs being made in strictly linear script,
which points to the pre-Sargonic period, although the
style of the costume would indicate a later period.

Early in the season a Beduin, probably one of the Baiji,
from the Gezireh or desert lying between the Euphrates
and Tigris rivers, came into camp and showed the staff
several fragments of painted pottery which aroused the
keenest interest. The Beduin stated that those fragments
came from the surface of a small low mound lying far
out in the desert. Professor Langdon and Mr. Mackay
decided to visit this mound together with the Beduin.
They took him in the Ford out into the Gezireh on a
Friday, which is the Mohammedan Sunday, and the day
during the week that the excavations are not in progress.
After they had covered about twenty miles, the long chain
of mounds, called Tell Bargouthiat, came into view, and
they approached a long, low mound which the Beduin
called "Jemdet Nasr" (see Map). Professor Langdon and
Mr. Mackay found many fragments of painted pottery
and other evidence of an early occupation. They decided
to run some "trial trenches" into this mound, with the
hope of discovering complete painted pots, tablets bearing
an ancient script, archaic seals, and other archaeological
objects.

WORK AT JEMDET NASR 1926

During the early part of January, 1926, Professor
Langdon commenced excavations at Jemdet Nasr, which

12 Field Museum of Natural History

is located eighteen miles northeast of Kish. In the dry
season prior to the late winter rains this site is many miles
from water. There is a large "kessereh" or catchment
basin about one mile to the east of Jemdet Nasr which
contains water after the rains. This water is suitable for
drinking purposes after it has been carefully boiled.

A small reed-mat hut was constructed to house the
twenty workmen with whom Professor Langdon decided
to commence excavations. Hassan Jedur was in charge
of the workmen, who were given one of the armed sentries
from the Kish camp as protection from the lawless Beduin
raiders, who roam over the Gezireh. Every morning
Professor Langdon drove out to Jemdet Nasr in the old
Ford, laden with food for the men, consisting of dates and
unleavened cakes, and gasoline cans of water. Each day
the men welcomed the professor by kissing his feet and
giving loud voiced thanks to Allah for his safe arrival with
their precious supply of water and food.

Work was begun on the eastern end of the mound
which is about a thousand feet long by three hundred feet
wide and stands at the highest point about ten feet above
the level of the surrounding plain.

Almost immediately small rooms were uncovered, and
several complete painted pots, as well as hundreds of
fragments, came to light. Later, Professor Langdon dis-
covered a very important series of tablets and archaic
cylinder seals. Among other interesting objects excavated
was a small painted jar lying against the wall of one of the
small rooms. This jar, much blackened, supposedly by
the fire which destroyed the ancient city, contained charred
grains of wheat which are at present the most ancient in
existence from Mesopotamia and which are now on exhib-
ition in Field Museum (Hall 25). It is noteworthy that
this ancient wheat is apparently identical with varieties
grown at present after the lapse of more than five thousand
years and a corresponding number of generations of wheat
plants.

O £

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 13

Professor Langdon continued work until the end of
March under the most trying conditions. Owing to the
physical strain, combined with fever, he was taken to
Baghdad Hospital in a delirious condition. He was in
this hospital for several weeks, and even after his return
to England, a whole year elapsed before he was back to
his normal state of health. He had, however, made the
most important and sensational discoveries of recent years
in Mesopotamia.

In the "Oxford Editions of Cuneiform Texts" published
in 1928 and containing the pictographic inscriptions from
Jemdet Nasr, Professor Langdon gives a detailed descrip-
tion and translation of these, together with the following
series of deductions. *

All the antiquities found at Jemdet Nasr belong to the
same period. These include painted monochrome and
polychrome pottery (Plates XIII and XIV) with geometri-
cal designs, comparable to that of the second period of
Susa pottery, press and roll stone seals, copper and stone
implements. This site was destroyed by fire about 3500
B.C., and has never been occupied since that date. The
tablets were not inscribed by means of a stylus with a
triangular narrow head, but by means of a sharp-pointed
instrument. In the series of available texts there is suffi-
cient evidence to conclude that the language is Sumerian.
From the few gods which appear only in the archaic
period, this would suggest an early stage of religious belief
very close to monotheism or belief in the existence of a
single god. Only the great trinity of Earth, Nether-sea,
and Sky, as well as the Sun-god have appeared. If an
earlier stage of this civilization could be studied by means
of other older texts, such as the famous Kish tablet
now in the Baghdad Museum, Professor Langdon thinks
that the sole deity worshipped in the beginning would
be An, the Heaven-god. In his opinion the history of the
oldest religion of man is a rapid decline from monotheism

14 Field Museum of Natural History

to extreme polytheism and to widely spread belief in evil
spirits. It is, in a very true sense, the history of the fall of
man.

The painted pottery, found with these tablets, indicates
an intimate relation with the same type of painted pottery
(Susa II) found with the Proto-Elamitic tablets published
by Professor Scheil ("Delegation en Perse," VI, XVII).
The painted pottery includes both monochrome and poly-
chrome with geometrical designs consisting for the most
part of checkered or lozenge-shaped patterns. The seals
are of exactly the same type as those of Susa. Their
designs usually take the form of simple crosses or groups
of dots. The roll cylinder seals are of various shades of
marble, limestone, green steatite, shell, and alabaster,
while precious stones were never utilized. The roll
cylinder seals show the same animal file motif as in
Elam; fish swimming in rows, goats, geometrical designs
repeated.

Professor Langdon concludes that the Sumerian civili-
zation entered the Mesopotamian Valley from Elam in this
area, and then spread southward to the shore of the Persian
Gulf. Moreover, this nation is connected with the one
whose press seals and painted pottery have been found in
the Indus Valley at Mohenjo-Daro in the Sind and at
Harappa in the Punjab.

WORK DURING THE SEASON 1926-27

In the month of December 1926 work was again
resumed with some changes in the scientific staff. Mr.
Ernest Mackay had joined the staff of the Indian Archae-
ological Survey under Sir John Marshall, transferring his
activities to Mohenjo-Daro in the Indus Valley.

Mr. Louis Charles Watelin, a French archaeologist,
who had been assistant to de Morgan at the excavations
of Susa for many years, was appointed field director in
place of Mr. Mackay. Mr. Watelin reached Kish on

LEAFLET 28

PLATE VII

COPPER REIN-RING
Found near the two-wheeled chariot. It is surmounted by the figure of a species of Equidae

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 15

December 19, accompanied by Mr. Eric Schroeder of
Corpus Christi College, Oxford, who was to assist him in
the work of excavation.

Mr. Watelin decided to concentrate his efforts for the
next four seasons upon attempting to throw light upon the
civilization and the physical characteristics of the earliest
inhabitants of Kish. He decided, further, to localize his
work in the central portion of the great series of mounds
lying west of the largest Ziggurat of Tell Inghara (see
Plan). The two main problems were the enormous amount
of earth to be lifted and the distance to be traversed by
the basket boys to and from the dumping ground. He
decided, however, after careful deliberation, that this part
of the mound would probably contain the most impor-
tant buildings, and would therefore yield the most
valuable cultural objects.

Following this plan, Mr. Watelin commenced work in
this area toward the end of December with about 150
workers. Almost immediately the workmen came upon
late Arab remains. Below these strata were objects belong-
ing to the Neo-Babylonian period. The human skeletons,
in the upper strata, were very well preserved. It was
possible to use several for detailed anthropometric meas-
urements and study.

In one portion of the mound large walls were encoun-
tered which proved to belong to a huge Babylonian temple
(see Plate IV), commenced by Nebuchadnezzar in the
sixth century before our era, and continued by Nabonidus
whose son-in-law, Belshazzar, saw the "handwriting on the
wall"referred to in the Book of Daniel. The walls of this
magnificent building stand about twenty feet in height
and measure about five feet in thickness. They are built
of sun-dried bricks. It is amazing that, having remained
covered for nearly twenty-five centuries, they were found
to be as firm and secure as the day when they were con-
structed by those royal builders so many centuries ago.

16 Field Museum of Natural History

This magnificent structure with its three huge, buttressed
outer gates stands upon the top of a mound lying on the
western side of the small Ziggurat.

The outer walls of the temple are marked by the
T-shaped false-pillar decoration which is characteristic of
Babylonian architecture. There are a spacious central
shrine approached from a gate, and two antechambers.
This shrine communicates with two chapels, one on the
right, the other on the left. The distinctive feature about
the central room is the occurrence of a cornice along the top
of the walls. No statue was found in the center of the
shrine. Behind one of the bricks a workman discovered a
cache of jewels, which consisted of agate, lapis lazuli,
carnelian, and other semi-precious stones, together with
some gold and coral from the Persian Gulf. These jewels
were probably hidden very hastily by a temple priest when
Cyrus, the Mede, threatened to invade and destroy the
city of Kish. On the northern side of the temple lies the
great open courtyard, which has as yet not been excavated.
It is improbable that this work will yield a single object,
while it will involve an enormous expenditure of time and
labor. It was therefore decided to concentrate upon reach-
ing the lowest levels south of the temple. The brick boxes
in which Nabonidus had placed his foundation deposits at
various entrances to the temple had unfortunately been
rifled by the armies of later invaders, although some objects
of value were still found in them.

In many of the rooms on the northern side of the temple
bricks were piled both vertically and horizontally against
the walls. From this and other evidence Mr. Watelin
suggests that this temple was never completed and that,
destroyed by an invader, it remained covered by an accu-
mulation of sand for two thousand five hundred years,
until it was partially excavated by the expedition.

Toward the end of the season Mr. Watelin sank a shaft
twenty feet down into the lowest stratum which he had
reached up till that time, and found fragments of painted

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 17

pottery and definite proofs of a much earlier culture. In
this shaft he also found a large block of stone through
which a hole had been bored; this may have served as a
sacrificial stone. These discoveries were duly reported to
Professor Langdon, and it was decided to excavate a small
restricted area down to water level during the following
season.

WORK DURING THE SEASON 1927-28

Mr. Watelin and Mr. Schroeder reached Kish on
December 1, 1927, and were joined by myself a few days
later. Mr. Watelin decided to remove a building known
as Monument Z, which he had uncovered during the pre-
vious season. This building contained no objects of archae-
ological interest, and lay on the western side of the largest
Ziggurat of Tell Inghara. The building was removed
during the month of December. It was decided to con-
centrate the efforts of the gangs with basket-boys, under
the superintendence of Hassan Jedur, upon a section a
hundred yards long and fifty yards wide. The earth was
to be lifted down to water level in an attempt to find
traces of the earliest inhabitants of Kish. The other group
of men worked with light railroad trucks, attacking the
western side of the mound north of this area, and cutting
a series of trenches down to the level of the plain in the
direction of the temple of Nabonidus.

The most important discoveries made during the early
part of the season were some tablets just below Monument
Z and the grave of a female skeleton which contained a
gold band encircling the skull. Several large unpainted
pots of various sizes and shapes, two alabaster jars, several
copper hair-ornaments and a quantity of beads were also
found in association with this skeleton.

About three feet below the level of Monument Z a
thick sterile layer of red earth was found. This red earth
layer appeared to cover the city at this particular depth,

18 Field Museum op Natural History

and could be accurately dated by Professor Langdon,
owing to the fact that a beautiful lapis-lazuli cylinder seal
bearing an inscription was found just at the top of this
layer. Professor Langdon decided that this cylinder seal
could be dated at about 3200 B.C. Since this thick band
of red earth covered the entire city so far excavated, at
this particular depth, it may be presumed that everything
found above must be posterior to that date, and every-
thing below must belong to an earlier period. The red
band varied from a maximum of five feet to a minimum of
three feet in thickness. No objects of any kind were found
in this layer. It was noted that it was mainly composed
of red earth bricks lying at every angle throughout the
entire stratum. It is suggested that this stratum was
laid down by water caused by a local overflow of the
Euphrates which at that time flowed about one mile to
the west.

In the region below the red layer numerous graves were
discovered. These represented an entirely different type
of culture consisting mainly of stone bowls, copper objects,
some fragments of painted pottery, and a small spiral of
gold, while precious stones were absent. There were also
coarse flint implements suggestive of a neolithic phase.
The skeletal material was not very well preserved, with no
definite orientation of the bodies.

In the southern corner of the trench, at a depth of
forty-three feet below the original surface of the mound, a
large tomb was unearthed. This contained numerous
human skeletons lying in various positions, each body
surrounded by numerous unpainted pots broken by the
pressure of the overlying earth.

One morning Ali Daud, one of the most experienced
pickmen, discovered some copper nails and the copper rein-
ring of a chariot. This beautiful object is surmounted by
the figure of a small member of the Equidae, probably a
wild ass (Plate VII), and well demonstrates the artistic

LEAFLET 28

COPPER RUSHLIGHT
The base is in the shape of a solid copper frog

Excavations at Kish— 1929-23 19

attainment of the Sumerians in the middle of the fourth
millennium before our era. Work proceeded very carefully
and slowly in this section, and finally the two wheels of
a chariot came to light. Skeletons of oxen were lying in
front of the chariot, and it seemed plausible that these
were the animals which drew the vehicle to its last rest-
ing-place. Each of the wheels of the chariot was composed
of sections of wood joined together. These were held in
place by copper nails which were embedded in a rim com-
posed of a hard white substance. The axle of each wheel
was marked by a number of copper nails which had been
driven in at every angle, but which unfortunately fell to
pieces upon exposure to the air.

Numerous measurements and photographs, including
motion pictures, were taken of this fragmentary two-
wheeled chariot, but there seemed to be positively no
method of removing the wheels from the earth. We
decided, however, to attempt their excavation, mainly
with the idea of discovering some technique which would
be of service should another chariot be uncovered at a
deeper level in another part of the trench.

Several coats of oak varnish were applied in order to
harden the exposed surface of the wheel whose thickness
had been reduced by moisture and pressure to that of
tissue paper. Sixteen coats of this varnish were carefully
applied with a light brush to the central portion of the
solid wheel which was in the best state of preservation.
Each coat of varnish was allowed to dry, so that finally a
hard, firm coating over the entire wheel was obtained.
The wheel was then enclosed in a wooden box. After cover-
ing the surface with cheese-cloth to prevent adherence,
plaster was poured into the box to form a solid immov-
able mass (see Plate VI). The back of the wheel was then
carefully exposed, the box completed and filled with
plaster. By these methods it was possible to remove the
encased wheel by automobile to camp.

20 Field Museum of Natural History

Several weeks later water level was reached. It was
observed that many of the objects were in a better state
of preservation as the soil became less dry on reaching the
lower levels. In the center of the trench, at a total depth of
forty-eight feet, more copper nails were found. Later a
copper-bladed saw came to light, and finally the wheels
of a four-wheeled chariot with the skeletons of the domesti-
cated animals lying between the shafts (see Plate V). The
same varnish and plaster technique was applied. After
sixteen days it was possible to remove the four wheels to
camp. During the process of excavation, which was parti-
cularly delicate, the wooden framework of the chariot was
found, but in a very fragmentary condition. Upon expo-
sure to the air, decay set in immediately, and within a few
minutes nothing remained but darkened traces in the
earth. Another copper rein-ring attached to the pole
between the animals which drew the chariot was found.
A copper bull figurine surmounted the rein-ring, although
the skeletons of the animals prove to be members of the
Equidae, probably asses. Human skeletons were lying all
around the chariot. Just outside the entrance to the tomb
was a man lying on his right side, with his knees flexed.
He may have been the sentry left to guard the tomb.

It seems possible to reconstruct the following dramatic
scene which took place at Kish some 5500 years ago. A
chieftain died and was buried with full honors. Upon the
funeral day the chariot drawn by stately asses and fol-
lowed by mourning servants filed down into the tomb. At
a given moment the shout was raised on all sides, "kill!"
and both men and animals were struck down where they
stood. The chieftain's servants, including the carpenter
and his chariot, his most prized possession, would now be
ready to serve their lord and master in the world beyond.
As some such dramatic scene seemed to unfold itself before
our eyes, we were consciously impressed as we stood before
that chariot and realized that up to that moment it was,
and is at present, the oldest wheeled vehicle in existence.

LEAFLET 28

PLATE IX

LIMESTONE PLAQUE
With relief showing a king trampling on his enemies

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 21

In later times, notably during the reign of King
Nebuchadnezzar, small toy chariots were common play-
things for children, numerous examples of which were
excavated in the late Babylonian levels. During this
season several toy-rattles were also unearthed; among
those is one modeled in the shape of a hedgehog, with a
clay pellet in the center. The most unique object from the
lowest strata just above the present water-level is a copper
rushlight. The base of this rushlight consists of a solid cop-
per frog with naturalistic eyes of limestone inlay. The back
of the frog supports a copper rod whose summit branches
into five petals shaped like lotus-leaves (Plate VIII).

These leaves contain the rushes used as a primitive
means of illumination. It is of interest that the early
Sumerians had developed a high sense of artistic beauty.

In several of the tombs shell lamps were found. These
consist of large whorled shells cut in half so that the central
whorl or chamber might contain the oil, while the several
spines could be utilized as wick containers.

The burials were numerous in this deep trench. No
definite orientation of the bodies could be observed.
Pottery and stone vessels were abundant. Numerous beads
occurred with the female skeletons. There were traces of
mat burials among which can be included the grave con-
taining the frog lamp. I excavated every human bone
which was in a sufficiently good state of preservation and
which might throw any light on the racial characters of
these early inhabitants of Kish. Fragments of more than
two hundred skeletons were sent to Field Museum for
future detailed study and correlation with anthropometric
data on the Arabs living in Kish area at present. I obtained
measurements and photographs of about 550 Arabs,
which form a valuable contribution to our knowledge of
the living inhabitants of central Mesopotamia.

Large coarse flint implements which were found sug-
gested a transitional culture between a late neolithic and
an early chalcolithic (mesolithic) period.

22 Field Museum op Natural History

Another interesting discovery was that of a small room
which contained a thin stratum entirely composed of fish
skeletons. This may have been the last room containing
water as the flood abated, and was thus crowded with fish
eager to survive in the struggle for existence. The water
evaporated, and the fish were covered with silt, and were
thus preserved. A section of this stratum was brought to
Field Museum, and will furnish material for an interesting
study and report.

While the work was progressing in this deep trench
down to water level, the railway gangs were cutting
trenches into mound "B" north of "Y" trench, and were
clearing toward the temple.

Babylonian pottery is common in these upper layers.
There were numerous child burials in pots. The greater
proportion of these pot burials were of female children.
They occurred next to a long wall. This suggests the
possibility that the children might have been sacrificed at
the dedication of this building.

A small Sumerian limestone statue was found here by
the workmen. This was undoubtedly not in its original
level, and had been re-utilized by the Babylonians. No
inscription was visible, either on the exposed shoulder, or
on the back of the statue, which is now in Field Museum.

At the conclusion of the season the walls and floors of
the trenches are levelled so that any summer excavations
by local Arabs can at once be detected, when work will be
resumed the following season.

Toward the middle of March work was closed at Kish
after the most fruitful season since the start of the expe-
dition.

WORK AT JEMDET NASR, MARCH 1928

In January the members of the expedition visited
Jemdet Nasr, and were amazed at the amount of painted

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 23

pottery fragments visible on the surface of the eastern
end of the mound. This part of the mound seemed to
warrant further excavation.

Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Henry J. Patten of
Chicago, work was resumed here with 180 men and boys.
Owing to the trying conditions of working so far out in
the desert it was decided to spend ten days with this army
of workers in an attempt to obtain more painted pots,
archaic tablets and seals, as well as human skeletal mater-
ial. The excessive heat, the water barely drinkable, sand-
storms, and a plague of locusts made these ten days at
Jemdet Nasr seem very long and tedious. The work,
however, was eminently successful, and much additional
material was obtained.

Professor Langdon is studying the tablets and seals at
Oxford, and several of the fragmentary painted pots have
been restored in Field Museum (Plates XIII and XIV).
Four human skeletons were found, but in a very poor and
fragmentary condition. From a cursory and preliminary
examination it would seem that the skulls were remark-
ably dolichocephalic.

CLOSE OF THE SEASON

Mr. R. S. Cooke, Honorary Director of Antiquities of
Iraq, came down to Kish and chose the objects as the share
for the Iraq Museum. The remaining objects were then
packed and sent to Field Museum and Oxford University
respectively. Several thousand feet of good motion
pictures were obtained illustrating the work of excavation
and form an important pictorial record of the activities
of the expedition. Mr. Showket of the "Mesopotamia
Studio" in Baghdad was the professional operator em-
ployed from time to time.

WORK DURING THE SEASON 1928-29

Mr. L. Ch. Watelin commenced excavations with about
two hundred workmen in the early part of December.

24 Field Museum of Natural History

He was assisted by his son, R. Watelin, who was also to act
as photographer, and by Mr. T. K. Penniman, who was
to take charge of the excavation of human skeletal remains.

From the weekly reports received during the past season
by Field Museum the following information is derived.

Mr. Watelin sank a small shaft through the water
which lies at the bottom of the lowest trench (Y), in an
attempt to reach virgin soil. The water was removed with
four-gallon gasoline cans. Virgin soil was finally reached
two and a half meters below the present water level. The
archaeological objects found during the sinking of this
shaft were as follows: potsherds and a number of ash beds,
fragments of painted pottery, some flint implements dif-
fering in types from those above the water level, also
fragments of animal bones and teeth. No human bones
were found in this trench.

A study of the cross section of this shaft indicates that
between water level and virgin soil the city was destroyed
and rebuilt three times. The periodical destruction of the
walls must have been caused by local inundations. The
houses, therefore, contain very few objects. It seems
probable that before the third reconstruction of the city
flint implements were still in use. This was certainly the
case at the second reconstruction, because numbers of
flint flakes were found by Mr. Watelin on the floor of one
of the houses, which would indicate the chipping of the
flint in situ. In the deepest levels the flint saw or sickle
blades were found embedded in bitumen, which would
prove their utilitarian purpose at this period. In the levels
above, the bitumen is nearly always absent. This suggests
a neolithic phase, which was reached just above virgin soil,
and is an important discovery, but a larger area must be
uncovered before any definite conclusions can be reached.

A painted terra-cotta Sumerian head, half natural size,
was found during the season. This is probably the only
example of painted statuary known in this art. Among

LEAFLET 28

PLATE X

FOUR EARLY CLAY TABLETS
In early pictographic script, from Jerodet Nasr

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 25

other interesting objects which came to light are the copper
support of a vase made of coiled copper wire in which a
tall stone vase had been placed, the small model of a
chariot with the four wheels embedded in bitumen, a team
of six members of the horse family drawing it, and the
driver standing up in the chariot. Several hundred Baby-
lonian tablets, as well as a number of tablets belonging to
the earlier periods were excavated.

Mr. Penniman excavated a quantity of skeletal ma-
terial. Mr. R. Watelin assisted his father, and obtained
good series of photographs. According to recent informa-
tion from Professor Langdon, Mr. Watelin has found evi-
dence of two floods, one occurring about 3400 B.C. and the
other some six hundred years earlier. He further suggests
that the later flood may have been the flood mentioned in
the Bible.

Mr. Watelin closed the excavations about the middle
of March and attended to the division of objects and the
packing of cases.

METHODS AND TECHNIQUE OF EXCAVATION

There are two distinct divisions of labor among the
workers, the gangs or "jokhas" who remove the earth with
baskets, and the jokhas who work with light railway trucks
(Plate III). Each of the former type of jokha consists of a
foreman, who works with a light pick-axe, assisted by two
youths whose duty is to scrape the earth into the small
baskets, with which the basket-boys carry away the earth
to the dump. The number of basket-boys employed in
each gang varies according to the distance which they
have to traverse and the speed at which the pickman can
work. At Kish there are from six to eight boys employed
with each gang.

During most of the season there are about twelve
gangs with basket-boys employed. The foreman or
Rais is responsible for the continual industry of the

26 Field Museum op Natural History

basket-boys. It is his duty to report to the director of the
expedition the names of any of the children who do not
work with sufficient zeal.

The ages of the children who are employed vary
between six and fourteen, and they work from seven
o'clock in the morning until four-thirty p.m., with an hour
for "bydos" or lunch. The children chant nearly all the
time, so as to make the time pass more quickly and to
keep each other amused. If the pickmen are making them
work too hard, they will sing, "Agrab mot el Marrar,
Agrab!" This means, "May the scorpion sting the pick-
man!" As the hour of noon approaches, they will scream
wildly, "Shufna Sa'a Sahib." This means, "Look at your
watch, Sahib," because they are all very hungry and tired,
and do not want to work one second overtime.

The more intelligent of the children will make up a
refrain about any unusual event, particularly when an
animal comes within sight of the mound. A fox or jackal
will bring immediate screams and wild shouts and even
the sight of a donkey will cause frenzied cries of amuse-
ment. If they were not permitted to vent their feelings
in this manner, they would very soon become tired and
bored with the work. Further, they work much more
diligently if they are all excavating in the same part of a
mound. For example, if the director takes one gang or
jokha and places it in a separate part of the mound, away
from all the others, the basket-boys will only accomplish
about half their normal amount of work, as they have no
distractions, and will soon become bored with each others'
company.

The basket-boys are continually watching on the
ground for any small objects which may have been missed
by the pickmen. It is certain that practically nothing is
lost, because they bring even the tiniest beads into camp.
During the seven seasons of excavation at Kish, the pick-
men have become more and more proficient, and every

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 27

year the same men are employed. If any of them seem to
be working without any interest or be in the least careless
in their methods of uncovering or removing antiquities,
they are sent away. A note is made against their names
so that they will not be employed again. The director will
expel a workman for an act of gross carelessness immedi-
ately after the event, as this is a good moral lesson to the
other workmen. It is the duty of the pickmen to send one
of the basket-boys to one of the Europeans the moment
that he finds an object, so that the scientist can do the
more skilled work of removing the earth surrounding it.
If the object is excavated intact the pickman will obtain
the same reward at the end of the day as though he had
taken the object out himself. In this way they are glad
to have scientific cooperation, because the scientists are
equipped with small knives and brushes, and their work
can therefore be much more delicate, and the risk of
breaking the object thereby lessened.

At the commencement of the season the part of a given
mound to be uncovered by each individual jokha is marked
out by the director. Each foreman is responsible for keep-
ing pace with his neighbors. Further, he receives a bakshish
or reward for all the objects found within his own little
area.

Below the Babylonian layers it is often difficult to
distinguish the walls of buildings or rooms, as they are
made of sun-dried bricks which, owing to the weight of
earth above, have lost their shape and individual appear-
ance. The Rais or overseer of the basket-boy jokhas,
Hassan Jedur, was for eighteen years in charge of part of
the excavations at Babylon with the German expeditions,
and is expert at recognizing a wall merely by the feel of
the blade of the pick-axe as it sinks into the earth.

Every evening the foreman of each jokha, which has
found archaeological objects during the day, returns to
the camp located at the foot of Tell el-Uhaimir to obtain

28 Field Museum of Natural History

his bakshish or gratuity. The sum of $5.00 would be the
maximum amount given for any object or group of objects.
The amount of bakshish is determined by the field director,
and varies in proportion to the intrinsic value of the
object, as well as the care shown by the pickman in uncov-
ering the objects. For example, a tomb, containing a
skeleton, unpainted pottery, stone bowls, and copper orna-
ments is uncovered by one of the workmen; the moment
he finds a pot he sends one of the basket-boys to one of
the European overseers to announce his discovery. One
of the scientific staff at once visits the spot and directs
operations. The ground is cleared all around to the same
level, and the pickman proceeds very cautiously until
finally part of the skeleton comes to light. The anthropo-
logist stops the work of the jokha, and the director moves
this jokha to another part of the trench. During the
season of 1927-28 I trained one of the most intelligent
workmen, named Khalef el-Jebbar, to act as assistant to
the anthropologist. The earth around the skeleton is
cautiously removed with the aid of small knives, scalpels,
and various brushes. After several hours the skeleton is
uncovered (Plate XI). Some time later, according to the
various circumstances, the pottery, stone bowls, and
copper ornaments are laid bare.

Several photographs are taken of this tomb group.
The complicated and skilful work of removing the objects
is commenced. As each object is removed, it is labelled
under the tomb group number, wrapped in cotton, and
placed in one of the boxes. The skeletons, particularly
those found in the lower levels, are for the most part in
poor condition, owing to the intense pressure caused by
the weight of the superimposed earth and by the dampness
of the soil. The gelatine in the bones has long since
disappeared. In order to remove the bones, something
must be used to replace the gelatine. Shellac or wax is
generally used. This is applied with a light brush over
the surface of the bones and allowed to dry and become

Excavations at Kish— 1929-23 29

hard. The bones are then removed and wrapped in cotton
wool, and placed in the boxes. At the conclusion of the
day the entire tomb group is taken to camp in an auto-
mobile. Individual pots and other objects are brought in
to camp by the foreman of each jokha.

The payment of one rupee (about thirty-two cents) is
a generous amount for a small tomb such as is described
above. One anna (two cents) is given for small unpainted
pots, while four to six annas may be the reward for a
larger and complete pot or similar object. The main
object of paying bakshish is to induce the men to be honest
and not to withhold the antiquities. For example, a large
object which could not be easily removed during the work
of excavation is not entitled to as much bakshish as a
small, though perhaps not so valuable object, such as a
cylinder seal, lapis-lazuli bead, and others, which could
be easily hidden in the folds of the flowing garments worn
by the men and sold some time later to Jewish merchants,
who would resell them to antique dealers in Baghdad.
Twice the actual value is always paid for objects of gold,
again to discourage theft. When a workman is caught in
an attempt to steal, word is immediately sent to the chief
of the local police in Hillah, who will dispatch two mounted
policemen to arrest the individual and throw him into
prison. This procedure also acts as a strong deterrent to
theft, and thus insures honesty among the men. With
these precautions it is certain that very few objects pass
into the hands of the antique dealers in Baghdad.

Small objects such as beads, fragments of stone bowls
or pieces of painted pottery which are brought to camp
by the basket-boys receive the smallest local coin, one-
quarter anna (half a cent). While the children bring many
worthless fragments to camp each evening, they are
encouraged to bring everything they find, and are rewarded
with this tiny coin.

Every Thursday work is stopped at four o'clock in the
afternoon, and the men receive their pay for the work of

30 Field Museum of Natural History

the previous week. Each pickman in turn brings his jokha
to receive their pay. The following wages are paid. The
pickmen receive per day 1 rupee (32 cents). The shovel
men receive per day 12 annas (24 cents). The basket-boys
receive per day 8 annas (16 cents).

The railway jokhas are paid as follows: The pickmen
receive per day 1 rupee (32 cents). All other light railway
employees receive per day 12 annas (24 cents).

The total amount per week paid for the employment
of about two hundred workmen is about 850 rupees ($270).
The two Rais or foremen each receive 13^ rupees per day
(48 cents).

The members of each jokha pay a tax out of their
earnings to the pickman who chooses them to be members
of his gang. The smallest basket-boys do not receive much
for the hard work after the pickman and their relatives
have taken their share of the 96 cents received as a weekly
wage!

There is much confusion around camp which is, how-
ever, kept in some order and semblance of discipline by
the camp sentries armed with sticks.

As the sun sinks over the western horizon outlining
the dome of an Imam or shrine of a saint, the men
disperse to their homes, and peace reigns once more over
the camp. The silence of the night is only broken by an
occasional shot by the sentries at Arabs wandering in the
vicinity of the camp, which is strictly forbidden during
the hours of darkness. The howling of the jackals and the
barking of the foxes are the only other sounds breaking
the silence of the desert night.

The objects are catalogued and numbered each evening,
and a weekly report is sent to both the Director of Field
Museum and Professor Langdon. From these reports it
is possible to follow the progress of the excavations and to
give publicity articles to the press from time to time.

uj 5

Excavations at Kish— 1923-29 31

At the conclusion of each season the Director of Anti-
quities comes to Kish from Baghdad to claim a share of
the objects, under the Antiquities Law, for the Iraq
Museum located in Baghdad. The objects are all arranged
in groups on tables according to the material of which
they are made. For example, all the stone objects are
placed together, all copper objects, unpainted pots on one
table, and painted pottery on another. Each group of
objects is divided, object by object. The specimens are
chosen alternately by the Director of Antiquities for Iraq
and the field director of the expedition. When this divi-
sion is finished, the objects for the Iraq Museum are
packed in wooden cases and sent to Baghdad.

The late Miss Gertrude Bell was Honorary Director
of Antiquities during the first few seasons, and was replaced
by Mr. R. S. Cooke, who represented the Iraq Museum
until 1928. In all the divisions Miss Bell and Mr. Cooke
showed the utmost fairness and cooperation, and it was
always a pleasure to have them visit the site of the
excavations.

The division between Field Museum and the Ashmo-
lean Museum at Oxford is as follows: Oxford obtains
tablets, seals and inscriptions for publication and duplicate
material for public exhibition, while Field Museum obtains
the larger proportion of archaeological and anthropological
material.

The objects are carefully packed in wooden cases and
shipped via Basrah to Chicago and Oxford, and about
April 1 each year the doors and windows of the mud huts
are bricked up, and the members of the expedition leave
the camp and excavations to the care of Sheikh Atiyeh
and his tribe.

Feisal, King of Iraq, told me during a short interview
last July that he welcomed the work of excavation within
his territory. The British, who act as advisers to King
Feisal and his Parliament, have always been most cour-

32 Field Museum of Natural History

teous, and have definitely furthered the cause of scientific
work, not only in Mesopotamia, but throughout the world.

During the past seven seasons the expedition has re-
vealed the culture and artistic attainments of the inhabit-
ants of Kish and Jemdet Nasr from the earliest occu-
pation, perhaps six thousand years ago, down to the Arabs
of yester-year. Thousands of museum objects have been
unearthed, including the oldest wheeled vehicle in the
world, many important tablets, unique examples of
painted ware, and numerous other antiquities

Careful and scientific excavation extending over a
period of years of a site such as Kish is the only method
by which early historical facts can be accumulated. The
scientific data obtained by the expedition have already
thrown a flood light on the peoples and early history of
the Near East, and the published reports will be of inesti-
mable value to the scientific world.

Henry Field

I!

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES

Breasted, J. H.— The Conquest of Civilization. New York, 1926.

Hall, H. R— The Ancient History of the Near East. London, 1920.

King, L. W. — A History of Sumer and Akkad. London, 1910.

Langdon, S. — Excavations at Kish. Paris, 1924.

Ausgrabungen in Babylonien seit 1918. Der alte
Orient, Vol. 26.

Pictographic Inscriptions from Jemdet Nasr. Oxford
editions of cuneiform texts.

Mackay, E. — Report on the Excavations of the "A" Cemetery at
Kish, Mesopotamia. Field Museum of Natural History,
Anthropology, Memoirs, Vol. I, No. 1, 1925.

Olmstead, A. T— History of Assyria. New York, 1923.

Smith, S. — Early History of Assyria. London, 1928.

SOMETIME MEMBERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC
STAFF 1923-1929

Professor Stephen Langdon, Director

Ernest Mackay Louis Charles Watelin

Mrs. Mackay Henry Field

Colonel W. H. Lane L. H. Dudley Buxton

Father Eric Burrows Eric Schroeder

David Talbot Rice T. K. Penniman
R. Watelin

FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS OF THE EXPEDITION

1923-1929

Captain Marshall Field Lady Durning-Lawrence

Dr. Herbert Weld Dr. Henry J. Patten

Robert Mond Dr. W. Rushton Parker

Sir Charles Marston R. C. A. Beck

William Radcliffe Edward Burney

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BY FIELD MUSEUM PRESS