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)
6906 (none) (none) B16363 Frog bead. Black steatite. E.
6905 (none) 1927,0527.139 (none) Puzuzu. Pendant. Chert. Green. E. [drawing 1:1]
6904 (none) (none) (none) Cylinder seal. Jade: transluscent. Green. Inscribed: 2 gazelles rampant and crossed attached on either side by 2 men. B.
6902 (none) (none) (none) Pig. Grey frit. Incised horizontal and vertical markings indicate skin. B.
6898 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Fragmentary head and feet missing. Female, closely draped? Carries baby against breast. B. [drawing 1:1]
6897 (none) (none) B16368 Ring. Gold. Complete but severed. E.
6895 (none) 1927,0527.230 (none) Terracotta figurine. Bearded male figure in profile wearing close fitting cap and long flowing garment, left hand held over waist and supporting a whip? The handle of which runs over left shoulder, cord falling down by left side. Right arm bent at elbow and held slightly upraised. Arms apparently bare, beard flowing down to waist, and hair apparently done up in a knot at back of head. [drawing 1:1]
6893A (none) (none) (none) Puzuzu. Head of white frit. Surface mostly destroyed. [drawing 1:1]
6892 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Horse and rider. Wooden looking primitive workmanship. B. [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]
6890 (none) (none) B16423 Miniature bowl. Copper. Smashed. E. [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]
6883 (none) (none) (none) Puzuzu. Head of black steatite. B. [drawing 1:1]
6881 (none) (none) (none) Cylinder seal. Black steatite. Gilgamesh and Enkidu attacking rampant lion. About 1400 BC. B.
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]
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]
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]
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
6869 (none) 1927,0527.242 (none) Terracotta chair? Fragment. Decorated with dogs and crescent moons. E.
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.
6867 (none) (none) (none) Cylinder seal. Grey steatite. Introductory scene. Minor god with horned headdress introduces votary to seated god. About 2300 BC. B.
6865 (none) 1927,0527.198 (none) Cylinder seal. Black. [steatite crossed out]. Two figures with unpierced arm standing on either side of sacred palm with dates rising out of water pot. About 2300 BC.
6864 (none) 1927,0527.249 (none) Clay rattle. Common type. Nobbed decoration round rims. E.
6863 (none) 1927,0527.248 (none) Fish. Frit. Glazed. Pair . One on topo f the other. E. [drawing 1:1]
6860 (none) (none) (none) Terracotta figurine. Bearded god with high headdress. Lost below waist. 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