Context Title: Diqdiqqeh | DQ     
Context Name (Publication): Diqdiqqeh     
Context Name (Excavation): Digdiggah; DQ     
Context Name (Excavation): Railway site     
Context Description: Essentially a suburb of the ancient city, this area is located about 2 km to the northeast of the ziggurat of Ur. The precise extents of Diqdiqqeh were never defined, but Woolley referred to it as the low ground between the main railway line and the branch that went to Nasiriyeh. The train lines no longer run in the same place they did in Woolley's day, but Corona images allow us to recreate their paths. This makes the general boundaries west, south, and east somewhat known but how far it stretched north is not completely clear. From the first season workers walking across this area picked up surface finds and brought them to Woolley. At that time the location did not have a fixed name in Woolley's mind and thus first season references sometimes say 'near the railway' or 'near Munshid's water engine.' In the second season Woolley decided to investigate more systematically, but after two days of excavation he decided there was not enough remaining architecture to reward further work. Instead, he continued to allow the workers to gather finds over the next ten seasons, and many later catalog cards state "brought in: Diqdiqqeh" The finds from Diqdiqqeh indicate that the ancient suburb played a role in manufacturing and perhaps in commerce. Canals seem to have met in the area and boats may have unloaded goods here. Many figurines, tools, moulds and other crafting items are among the finds, suggesting that Diqdiqqeh may have been an industrial area away from the main habitation. The so-called Treasury of Sin-Iddinam was also excavated in this general area in season 5. In the Antiquaries Journal of January 1925, Woolley described Diqdiqqeh as follows: “A mile and a half NE. of the ziggurat, between the main railway line and the Nasiriyah branch, there is a patch of low-lying ground, occasionally cultivated, which the natives call Diqdiqqeh... a happy hunting-ground for treasure-seekers, and I took advantage of this fact to collect from the natives the scattered antiquities which they might bring to light.”     
Season Number: 01: 1922-1923      

Objects: Diqdiqqeh | DQ 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)
3023 (none) (none) B16252 Terracotta bedstead. Buffware with rough rush pattern. Legs broken off.
3015 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta stool. Miniature, with rough rush design. [drawing 1:1]
3014 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Female, fragmentary, with coiled plaits: hands raised towards chin. [drawing 1:1]
3013 (none) 1927,1003.170 (none) Terracotta figurine. Fragmentary. Presumably fish-god, bearing mace in left hand. One leg exposed. [drawing 1:1]
3012 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Nude goddess surrounded by stars. [drawing 1:1]
2995 (none) (none) (none) Flat seal. Pottery. Neo-Babylonian/Persian Period [drawing]
2994 (none) (none) (none) Seal cylinder. Soapstone. III Ur Dynasty. [drawing]
2993 (none) (none) (none) Cylinder seal. Soapstone III Ur Dynasty. Weather worn. [drawing]
2991 (none) 1927,1003.166 (none) Terracotta figurine. Male with headgear, in profile: stick in left hand. [drawing 1:1]
2990 (none) 1927,1003.153 (none) Terracotta. Two figures, one larger than other holding one vase. Both stand upon beasts. [drawing 1:1]
2989 (none) 1927,1003.155 (none) Terracotta figurine. Seated goddess with flounced dress, holding two trees in hands and having two birds at her feet. Sketch slightly more than 1:2 [drawing]
2988 (none) 1927,1003.173 (none) Terracotta figurine. Votaress with clasped hands: adorned with beads. [drawing 1:1]
2987 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Goddess with flounced dress and hands raised. [drawing 1:1]
2986 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Votaress nude save for necklets: hands clasped across body. [drawing 1:1]
2985 29-174-19 (none) (none) Water pot. Drab ware with rounded base and sieve top. Type CLXXXVIII (not p)
2984B (none) 1927,1003.114 (none) Pottery Lekythos [in Greek]. Buffware with spread cheeks and rounded base. Neck and lip missing. (B) Reddish buff with lip intact, but bottom broken. Type CLXXXVII, =L., (not p)
2984A (none) (none) (none) Pottery Lekythos [in Greek]. Buffware with spread cheeks and rounded base. Neck and lip missing. (B) Reddish buff with lip intact, but bottom broken. Type CLXXXVII, =L., (not p)
2982 (none) (none) (none) Pottery cylinder. Buff ware irregularly pierced. Type CLXXXVI =RC.248 (not p)
2980 (none) (none) (none) Pottery vase. Drab ware of fine handmade style. Sketch pattern 1:2 [drawing 1:2]
2979 (none) (none) (none) Head of figurine. Bearded male with animal ears. Bearing mace. [drawing 1:1]
2978 31-16-785 (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Nude votaress with clasped hands. [drawing 1:1]
2977B (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Votaress, nude but for necklaces, hair elaborately dressed. [drawing 1:1]
2977A (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Votaress, nude but for necklaces, hair elaborately dressed. [drawing 1:1]
2974 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Primitive figure of nude votaress with tambourine. [drawing 1:1]
2973 (none) (none) (none) Pottery cist. Small box with snake relief on outside and inside on bottom snake approaching throne.

Media: Diqdiqqeh | DQ Export: JSON - XML - CSV

Media Media Title Title Label Author Omeka Label
Ur Excavations VII; The Old Babylonian Period Ur Excavations VII; The Old Babylonian Period 1976 Woolley, L. and M. Mallowan (none)
  • 1 Media