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)
2580 (none) (none) (none) Clay tablet. Fragment. School exercise - List of signs. c. BC 2100
2585 (none) (none) (none) Black clay tablet. Pillow shape. Dated: 29th Siwan, 5th year of Cambyses - BC 524. Text: ?barley regular ration (bal-la) for 3 bulls, ?ga barley, fodder (kissatta) For 13 sheep, total 20 1/2 qa barley (for the day) Obverse 5 lines. Reverse 1 line. H.C.
2597 (none) (none) (none) Seal. Green glaze. Cynophelous monkey intaglio: pierced for suspension. [drawing 1:1]
2605 (none) (none) (none) Pottery fragment. Buff clay, inscribed with couchant lion. [drawing 1:1]
2607 (none) (none) (none) Fragment of clay horse. Head and legs missing; saddled. [drawing 1:1]
2608 (none) (none) (none) Clay figurine. Dark buff clay. Bearded and mitred figure, head only. [drawing 1:1]
2609 (none) (none) (none) Clay figurine. Greenish glaze, head only. [drawing 1:1]
2620 29-174-26 (none) (none) Glazed bowl. Reconstructed: with lotus design in relief outside: inside traces of flower design in color. =new type 2 (p) [drawing 1:2]
2621 29-174-27 (none) (none) Glazed bowl. Reconstructed: drab clay, on low base: straight-sided. [drawing 1:2]
2632 (none) (none) (none) Clay pot. Pinkish drab ware: wheel made. Type. CXXVII. [drawing]
2635A 29-174-17 (none) (none) Pottery vase. Unglazed greenish buff clay. Type CXXIX =L. (not p) Associated with U.2654
2635B (none) (none) (none) Pottery vase. Unglazed greenish buff clay. Type CXXIX =L. (not p) Associated with U.2654
2638 (none) (none) (none) Pot fragment. Marble, with him in low relief, standing on brick pavement. [drawing 1:2]
2642 (none) (none) (none) Clay pot. Drab clay. Type drawing in album. Type CXXXI. =P.68 [drawing]
2651 (none) (none) (none) Barrel shaped clay cone of Arad-Sin. Fragment Col II 11-25. CF U.2528, U.2565, U.2612, U.2613, U.2617, U.2622
2654A 29-174-22 (none) (none) [A-B] Clay vases. Buff clay, unglazed. B fragmentary & greenish. Type CXXXII. (not p) Assocd with U.2635 A & B.
2654B (none) (none) (none) [A-B] Clay vases. Buff clay, unglazed. B fragmentary & greenish. Type CXXXII. (not p) Assocd with U.2635 A & B.
2666 (none) (none) (none) Flint arrowhead. Finely chipped. [drawing 1:1]
2695 (none) (none) (none) Clay tablet. Pillow shaped. Roughly moulded, unbaked 3 finger print at the back. Dated on Cambyses king of Babylon king of the whole land. (10th year?)
2705 (none) (none) (none) [U.2705 through U.2711 were listed on the same catalog card] Clay tablets. Fragments. Persian Period -- probably Cambyses. U.2705: Comptability: barley, corn, etc.
2706 (none) (none) (none) [U.2705 through U.2711 were listed on the same catalog card] Clay tablets. Fragments. Persian Period -- probably Cambyses. U.2706: List of slaves and hirelings.
2707 (none) (none) (none) [U.2705 through U.2711 were listed on the same catalog card] Clay tablets. Fragments. Persian Period -- probably Cambyses. U.2707: Account of offerings (gi-nu-u) day by day.
2708 (none) (none) (none) [U.2705 through U.2711 were listed on the same catalog card] Clay tablets. Fragments. Persian Period -- probably Cambyses. U.2708: Receipt for barly
2709 (none) (none) (none) [U.2705 through U.2711 were listed on the same catalog card] Clay tablets. Fragments. Persian Period -- probably Cambyses. U.2709: Fragment = ma e
2710 (none) (none) (none) [U.2705 through U.2711 were listed on the same catalog card] Clay tablets. Fragments. Persian Period -- probably Cambyses. U.2710: Fragment = (Date ?) Receipt?

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