Context Title: Ziggurat Terrace | ZT     
Context Name (Publication): Ziggurat Terrace     
Context Name (Excavation): ZT     
Context Description: The excavation area abbreviation ZT stands for Ziggurat Terrace. It was used for any portion of the terrace on which the ziggurat stood, though other more specific abbreviations were also used. For example, the abbreviation PDW refers to the northern side of the terrace, west of the Great Nannar Courtyard (PD), and HD refers to the southern part of the terrace. Early references using the abbreviation ZT refer specifically to excavations along the terrace retaining wall itself. Later references, however, mention specific areas on top the terrace such as the so-called 'boat shrine.' The abbreviation also refers to deep clearing of the terrace fill, particularly on the north side in later excavation seasons, though the abbreviation Zig.31 was most often used for this. Woolley uncovered large areas of the retaining wall that supported the platform known as the ziggurat terrace. He found that it was decorated with large wall cones. These cones bore an inscription of Urnamma but there is evidence that the terrace in some form existed in the Early Dynastic period as well. The Urnamma retaining wall was slanted to support the terrace, was 1.7 meters high, 34 meters wide, and was decorated with 5-meter-wide buttresses about 4 meters apart. The inscribed cones dedicate the terrace to the moon god, Nanna, and show that it was called e-temen-ni-gur, which translates as, "house, foundation platform clad in terror." (Woolley read this e-temen-ni-il).     
Season Number: 02: 1923-1924      
Season Number: 03: 1924-1925      
Season Number: 05: 1926-1927      
Season Number: 10: 1931-1932      
Season Number: 11: 1932-1933      

Objects: Ziggurat Terrace | ZT Export: JSON - XML - CSV

Object U Number Museum Number (UPM Date Reg Number) Museum Number (BM Registration Number) Museum Number (UPM B-number) Description (Catalog Card)
2711 (none) (none) (none) [U.2705 through U.2711 were listed on the same catalog card] Clay tablets. Fragments. Persian Period -- probably Cambyses. U.2711: Rough clay bulla. Marks of string and a few signs pa-al the shabrau, official in charge of temple cultures.
2722 (none) (none) (none) Shell fish. Pierced for suspension. [drawing 1:1]
2724 (none) (none) (none) Clay tablet. Dated: 26th of Ezen Nin-a-zu. Period of Larsa Dynasty ? Text: List of proper names (pay list?)
2728 (none) (none) B16562 Broken brick with graphic plan or game? P.35. In text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace (13) and Fig. [drawing 1:2]
2729 (none) (none) (none) Pottery jar. Larsa period. Wheel-made moulded base with small knob incomplete. Larsa period. Type CXXXVI =L40.a. Associated with U.2730 and U.2731 [drawing]
2730 (none) (none) (none) Clay vase. Wheel made, withmoulded base and knob. Larsa period. Type CXXXVII =L. With U.2729 and U.2731
2731 (none) (none) (none) Clay jar. Wheel made with rounded base and knob. Upper part and lip missing. Larsa period. Type CXXXVII or L.40.C [drawing]
2749A (none) (none) (none) (A) Diorite Door-socket.; (B) Copper pole shoe} Both same inscription: Ur Engur, king of Ur, who has bult the house of Nannar. in text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace (13)
2749B (none) (none) (none) (A) Diorite Door-socket.; (B) Copper pole shoe} Both same inscription: Ur Engur, king of Ur, who has bult the house of Nannar. in text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace (13)
2750 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket of Ur Engur. ?king of Ur, who has built the house of Nannar.
2755A (none) (none) (none) Cone of Nu-ur ilAdad. Fragment. To nannar, crown of heaven, the eldest son of Enlil, Nu ur. Il(Adad), the mighty hero, who takes care of Ur. H.C.
2756 (none) (none) (none) Inscribed alabaster vase. Fragment. About BC 2800. H.C. [drawing]
2759B (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759C (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759D (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759E (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759G (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759H (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759I (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759J (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2759K (none) (none) (none) [A-K] 11 cones of Warad-Sin. Numbered A to K. Found in position. Text (cf. Thur-Dang ISA. Arad(-Sin e)) in text: Ziggurat in Larsa period (8)
2761A (none) (none) B16676 Ur-Nammu Stela. Stone stele fragments. Fine limestone: six fragments, [following text is struck through] giving horizontal division of stele. Upper two bear lower part of skirt & two finely modelled feet & conventional river of Ea, seated on throne. Lower register divine headdress, spear (?) & tree. Whole of fine workmanship. Upper register fragg. A. & C.: lower B. [end strike-through] For details see following page. In text: Ur-Nammu Stela and Kassite period 4. (A) Division between registers, one foot of top register figure and top of tree in lower register. (B) do. With part of throne top register & god's headdress in lower. (C) 2nd foot & part of skirt & throne of top register fig. (D) part of throne top register. (E) Lower part of headdress of god (2nd reg.) & hair. (F) Rest of god from 2nd reg. seated on throne before conventional tree in pot into which king is pouring libation (this connects with U.3264A) 3rd reg. upper parts of 3 figg: minor deity introducing king who bears mason's tools supported behind by priest or slave.
2771 (none) (none) (none) Door-socket. Ur-Engur. Bluish stone (flakes easily) usual inscription. In text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace(12)
2772 (none) (none) (none) Ur-Engur Door-socket. Bluish stone. Usual inscription. In text: 3rd Dynasty Terrace(12)
2780B (none) (none) (none) Pottery vases. Buff ware: widely splayed lip and pointed below baseline. A. is reconstructed, B. fragmentary. Type CXLIII = L.107. Larsa period. Found associates with U.2781 and U.2782. ? No (10) etc. L.5. (6)

Media: Ziggurat Terrace | ZT Export: JSON - XML - CSV

Media Media Title Title Label Author Omeka Label
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v2_p160 Ur_Notes_v2_p160 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v2_p211 Ur_Notes_v2_p211 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v2_p212 Ur_Notes_v2_p212 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v2_p213 Ur_Notes_v2_p213 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v2_p214 Ur_Notes_v2_p214 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v2_p215 Ur_Notes_v2_p215 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v2_p219 Ur_Notes_v2_p219 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v4_p121 Ur_Notes_v4_p121 (none)
Woolley's Field Note Cards Woolley's Field Note Cards Ur_Notes_v4_p218 Ur_Notes_v4_p218 (none)
Ur Excavations V: The Ziggurat and its Surroundings Ur Excavations V: The Ziggurat and its Surroundings 1939 Woolley Leonard (none)
Ur Excavations IV; The Early Periods Ur Excavations IV; The Early Periods 1955 Woolley, L. (none)
UPM Field Photo numbers UPM Field Photo numbers (none) (none) (none)
Field Photographs Field Photographs GN0097 GN0097 (none)
Field Photographs Field Photographs GN0098 GN0098 (none)
Field Photographs Field Photographs GN0099 GN0099 (none)
  • 15 Media