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)
6867 (none) (none) (none) Cylinder seal. Grey steatite. Introductory scene. Minor god with horned headdress introduces votary to seated god. About 2300 BC. B.
6868 (none) (none) (none) Clay vase fragment. Decorated. Above clay frog?? In high relief below incised, wavy line running round vase. Probably a portion of a large bird.
6874 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Goddess. Fragmentary above breast and below waist. Palms of hands resting on wweist, finger tips of left hand touching finger tips of right. Eight rows of necklaces. 3 clay pellets superimposed to represent jewels? B
6875A (none) (none) B16245 [A-B] 2 clay vases. Miniature. Incised markings round rim of A. Type [the following appear as later notes] U.1480. As U.2797 [latter is illegible] [drawing 1:2]
6875B (none) (none) (none) [A-B] 2 clay vases. Miniature. Incised markings round rim of A. Type [the following appear as later notes] U.1480. As U.2797 [latter is illegible] [drawing 1:2]
6879 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta plaque. Fragmentary. Heads lost. Male and female standing on snake? 2 figures in heavily flounced garments with sleeves and bared right shoulders standing on snake? 2 figures in heavily flounced garments with sleeves and bared right shoulders standing on snake. Figure on right clasps a stick? or mace head in right hand which is resting on his breast. Beard long and flowing touches his hand. On right female figure wearing necklace accosts male figure and touches his shoulder with her right hand. B. [drawing 1:1]
6881 (none) (none) (none) Cylinder seal. Black steatite. Gilgamesh and Enkidu attacking rampant lion. About 1400 BC. B.
6883 (none) (none) (none) Puzuzu. Head of black steatite. B. [drawing 1:1]
6884 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Fragmentary below waist. Female figure wearing heavy necklace. Thick wavy hair falling over shoulders and done up in a knot at the back. B. [drawing 1:1]
6890 (none) (none) B16423 Miniature bowl. Copper. Smashed. E. [drawing 1:1]
6891 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Complete with plaque which is oval shaped at bottom. Nude female wearing necklace, hands clasped below breast. B. [drawing 1:1]
6892 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Horse and rider. Wooden looking primitive workmanship. B. [drawing 1:1]
6893A (none) (none) (none) Puzuzu. Head of white frit. Surface mostly destroyed. [drawing 1:1]
6897 (none) (none) B16368 Ring. Gold. Complete but severed. E.
6898 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Fragmentary head and feet missing. Female, closely draped? Carries baby against breast. B. [drawing 1:1]
6902 (none) (none) (none) Pig. Grey frit. Incised horizontal and vertical markings indicate skin. B.
6904 (none) (none) (none) Cylinder seal. Jade: transluscent. Green. Inscribed: 2 gazelles rampant and crossed attached on either side by 2 men. B.
6906 (none) (none) B16363 Frog bead. Black steatite. E.
6909A (none) (none) (none) [A-B] 2 terracotta figurines. Fragmentary. Both figures lost below waist. One right bearded male full face; wearing high headdress holds in the right hand a stick? Which rests against his right shoulder. Right arm bare, left arm which is held horizontally against against breast and sleeved. On his left a female also full face wearing a high headdress rests her right hand on his shoulder. Female also has right arm bare and left arm sleeved, and wears a necklace. Hole 4mm., in diameter perforated between left shoulder of male and right shoulder of female. [drawing 1:1]
6913 (none) (none) (none) Clay vase. Light drab. 3rd Dynasty. Type LVII. RC.75. (not p)
6914 (none) (none) B16638 Clay bowl. Light drab. Type XXXIX(?) =RC.160mm (not a bowl) (not p)
6915 (none) (none) B16256 Terracotta statuette. Female: full face, dressed in close fitting skirt and holding a high-necked vase against waist in left hand, Right arm bent at elbow and slightly upraised. Skirt which is close fitting is embroidered at the bottom and tasseled down right side. Short sleeves reaching elbows only. Female wears necklace, short hair done up in clusters at sides. E. [drawing 1:1]
6916 (none) (none) B16602 Clay vase. Light drab. 3rd Dynasty. Type LXI. =P.200a
6921 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Fragmentary. Bearded man in profile with monkey on shoulders. Male figure clothed in long flowing garment and wearing close fitting cap on head. Twisted cord suspended from Monkey's neck and hangs down in front of male figure who holds a stick in his left arm. In his right hand a staff? -held against side. Cf. U.6855 same mould may have served for both. B.
6925 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Fragmentary head lost. Enthroned Ishtar in profile: feet resting on seated lion's head. Ishtar wears flounced kaukenes skirt scalloped at bottom. B. [drawing 1:1]

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