The term “semi precious” is applied to a subset gemstones, and the term was created to set them apart from what are considered precious stones (diamonds, sapphires, rubies, and emeralds). Things like amber and lapis lazuli, which are not really stones at all are still considered “semi precious” by most people. This distinction reflects the rarity of the respective stones in ancient times, as well as their quality.  all are translucent with fine color in their purest forms and very hard.  This distinction is not related to their monetary value, i.e. some forms of garnet are more expensive than emeralds.  

Objects: Semi-precious 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)
10168 (none) 1928,1010.252 (none) Cylinder Seal Lapis lazuli Men fighting rampant lions and bulls
9578 (none) 1928,1010.251 (none) Cylinder Seal Haematite Presentation scene, seated god and 3 standing figures and a tree
9693 (none) 1928,1010.238 (none) Cylinder seal. Lapis with gold caps. Scene: 2 heroes fighting a lion and a bull.
10822A (none) 1928,1010.237 (none) Tomb Group. A. Silver pin with fluted lapis ball head and fluted gold cap. Type V. B. Lapis lazuli cylinder seal, 2 registers: Upper: scorpion, kneeling hero fighting rampant lions, (a panther?), a striped zebu, and behind them a standing skirted male figure. Lower: gate of a shrine and within it seated figures drinking through straws, 3 seated figures, and 2 standing attendants. C. Limestone Bowl. Type XII D. Necklace of silver and lapis double conoids with 3 large facetted beads, 2 carnelian, 1 gold. For order see Field Note.
10822B (none) 1928,1010.237 (none) Tomb Group. A. Silver pin with fluted lapis ball head and fluted gold cap. Type V. B. Lapis lazuli cylinder seal, 2 registers: Upper: scorpion, kneeling hero fighting rampant lions, (a panther?), a striped zebu, and behind them a standing skirted male figure. Lower: gate of a shrine and within it seated figures drinking through straws, 3 seated figures, and 2 standing attendants. C. Limestone Bowl. Type XII D. Necklace of silver and lapis double conoids with 3 large facetted beads, 2 carnelian, 1 gold. For order see Field Note.
10871 (none) 1928,1010.236 (none) Cylinder Seal lapis 2 registers: above 2 persons seated & drinking through tubes, one seated with attendant standing in front. Below, square shrine (?) (or table?) with standing attendant: then 2 seated figures each with standing attendant in front. Figures bird-headed.
10939 (none) 1928,1010.235 (none) Cylinder Seal. Lapis. 2 registers: above, inscription Sub-ab Nin and 2 seated figures, each with a standing attendant in front and behind: below, a table with mutton joints (?) and 2 seated figures each with 2 standing attendants, one in front and one behind.
10426B (none) 1928,1010.214 (none) [A-B] Beads Disks of lapis set in gold rings, diameter 0025 Probably these were strung up with very small lapis beads of which great numbers were found in the soil (with the ring-set disks) by the side of the box and just above it.
10537 (none) 1928,1010.199 (none) 4 Beads, 3 lapis, 1 silver, facetted double conoids silver in between lapis
10801B (none) 1928,1010.196 (none) Tomb Group A. Beads : carnelian and lapis with good fly ornament : see Field notes B. Beads : lapis double conoids and a few silver C. Short lengths of thin gold ribbon each folded up into a little wad weights in grains, 16, 16, 21, 16, 16, 12, 11 1/2, 12 1/2, 7, 10, 10, D. Silver wire spiral coil ear-ring E. Plain silver wire bracelet
10833A (none) 1928,1010.194 (none) Tomb Group A. Beads: lapis double conoids. B. [B and D] 2 silver earrings, wire spiral coils C. Copper pin with bent stem and plain ball head (broken) Type VI B?
10866A.1 (none) 1928,1010.192 (none) [A.1-.3] Beads Double conoids Gold 68 Lapis 250 Probably forming 3 separate strings, one of gold, two of lapis
10830A (none) 1928,1010.191 (none) Tomb Group. A. Silver and lapis lentoid beads. B. Silver razor (?) Type XVI. [drawing] C. Copper razor, same type, stem broken: corroded to remains of a second which is all decayed Type XVI. D. [.1-.2] Silver earrings, wire spiral coils, two. E. A number of shell rings. F. Cockle shells containing paint.
10929 (none) 1928,1010.184 (none) Beads. A few only, of lapis and silver, lentoids: found together & apart from any other beads.
9782 (none) 1928,1010.181 (none) Beads Two large lapis lentoids One gold lentoid 1 lapis bugle
9894 (none) 1928,1010.179 (none) 5 Beads Three carnelian bugles, two gold ball beads strung thus:-carnelian, gold,; gold, carn.
10599A (none) 1928,1010.177 (none) Tomb Group. (A) Beads of lapis, gold and carnelian. (B) Gold finger ring, hoop of thin metal 5mm, wide with 4 strands of cable pattern. The example shows the process of manufacture. The ring is really a spiral made of flattened gold wire: after the completion of the 1st ring the wire is twisted so that the next 4 hoops show a cable pattern: enough of the wire is left untwisted to form the last hoop & so give another plain edging. The whole was then fused into a single band: in this case the fusing is incomplete & the process is thereby explained. (C) Silver pin with lapis ball head. L. 165mm (D) Cockle shells containing paint.
9812A (none) 1928,1010.176 (none) Necklace. 2 strings of beads. (A) Upper string: smaller beads - gold, carnelian and a few lapis. For order cf. Field Notes. (B) Lower string: larger beads - jasper, banded sard, mottled stone, agate.
10347 (none) 1928,1010.175 (none) Necklace Lapis & gold double conoids For order of stringing cf. Field Note.
10401 (none) 1928,1010.174 (none) Beads Double conoids of gold & lapis See Field Notes
10873 (none) 1928,1010.171 (none) Frontlet Containing of 2 gold chains., 2 bugles of red and white agate, and a facetted lapis lentoid =probably also carnelian rings, but these were not found in position.
9995 (none) 1928,1010.166 (none) Wreath. Gold leaves strung up with small lapis bugles and carnelian rings.
10343 (none) 1928,1010.166 (none) 5 or 6 Gold Ribbons Worn round head Normal type
10346 (none) 1928,1010.165 (none) 13 Gold (Mulberry?) Leaves Strung in normal manner with carnelian rings & lapis bugles. cf. Field Note.
10445C (none) 1928,1010.160 (none) [A-D] 4 long slender rods of copper, two silver plated [A,B], two gold plated [C,D]. Corroded together at ? and the gold rods were found apart and are formally 2 distinct rods. Use quite unknown: nothing found with them to explain.

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Inorganic Remains > Stones and Minerals > Mineral > Semi-precious