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)
34C (none) (none) (none) Beads in gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian: found loose and restrung as follows (A) Gold ram: small figurine in thin metal, hollow, pierced for threading. Fine work. Photo no. 39 length 0.016 (B) String of lapis and gold beads thus [refers to drawing], graded in size, 43 gold and 45 lapis, and a circular rosette pendant of open work gold. [drawing] Photo no. _ length 085 (C) String of carnelian beads, 40 in all, 2 gold ring terminals, 4 gold pear pendants, 2 carnelian pear pendants on gold, one plate pendant of carnelian with white design on gold. Photo no. 39 length 008 (D) String of 10 gold and 20 lapis nasturtium-seed beads with six lapis pear pendants on gold and one lapis fly amulet. photo no. _ length 0155 (E) String of small lapis beads strung in 2 rows with lapis spacers at ends of 8 gold mulberry(?)-leaf pendants, a triangular gold spacer, one lapis beads bound with gold wire and a triple gold beads (these 2 as a pendant) Photo. No. 39. length 0.165
34E (none) 1928,1010.107 (none) Beads in gold, lapis lazuli and carnelian: found loose and restrung as follows (A) Gold ram: small figurine in thin metal, hollow, pierced for threading. Fine work. Photo no. 39 length 0.016 (B) String of lapis and gold beads thus [refers to drawing], graded in size, 43 gold and 45 lapis, and a circular rosette pendant of open work gold. [drawing] Photo no. _ length 085 (C) String of carnelian beads, 40 in all, 2 gold ring terminals, 4 gold pear pendants, 2 carnelian pear pendants on gold, one plate pendant of carnelian with white design on gold. Photo no. 39 length 008 (D) String of 10 gold and 20 lapis nasturtium-seed beads with six lapis pear pendants on gold and one lapis fly amulet. photo no. _ length 0155 (E) String of small lapis beads strung in 2 rows with lapis spacers at ends of 8 gold mulberry(?)-leaf pendants, a triangular gold spacer, one lapis beads bound with gold wire and a triple gold beads (these 2 as a pendant) Photo. No. 39. length 0.165
51 (none) (none) (none) Necklace. Consisting of agate lunar pendant, 13 gold beads (some decayed), 12 carnelian and 18 lapis beads (including one barrel 0.047 long) = from this beads through the center 13 are restrung in the original order. and 7 gold beads unstrung.
54 (none) 1923,1110.190 (none) Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Engraved with scene of worshipper being introduced to a god standing in front of a gate.
55 (none) 1923,1110.191 (none) Cylinder seal. Lapis lazuli. Broken in half and chipped down one side. Scene: 3 figures in a row advancing l[eft]. Found with beads round neck of body in larnax burial.
98 (none) (none) (none) Veined agate fragment. Inscribed with a dedication to Nannar.
114 (none) (none) (none) Haematite Weight (?). [drawing 1:1] Type III
139 (none) (none) (none) Lapis lazuli. Fr of inlay. Apparently hair. [drawing 1:1]
155 (none) 1923,1110.183 (none) Beads, string of found loose in soil together and re-strung. Large yellow paste and light carnelian, 13 in all.
163 (none) (none) (none) Duck weight. Carnelian. Type VI
200 (none) (none) (none) Beads. String of mixed beads, carnelian, paste, crystal, etc. Restrung from isolated beads found on the level of the broken stone vases, but not in their vicinity: mostly towards the NW corner of the room. All deep down in the floor packing.
310 (none) (none) (none) Agate bowl. Intact. Lathe-turned, the center lathe-hole filled up with a strong peg. Plain rib moulding on outside. Very beautiful stone.
411 (none) (none) (none) Chalcedony seal. Very roughly engraved with design of two fish. [drawing 1:1]
415 (none) (none) (none) Rock crystal cylinder seal. Fragment of. Subject: Gilgamesh and the lions: 2 columns of inscription. Poor scratchy work.
459B (none) (none) (none) [A-D] Four brooches of gold and stone. Hollow circular setting of thin gold, the back plain except for a beaded edging, the front with a beading between 2 plain lines: inset in front, a large cat's eye. A ring for suspension above and two below, let into rim: projecting from the rim and fixed into it by gold-capped bronze pins, carnelians, six on each side. (two of these are in position: the remaining ones found loose, one of the cat's eyes was found in position: the others had fallen out). [Drawing 1:1] 1 only A Phil. 2 sent to Baghdad (B and D)
459C (none) 1923,1110.164 (none) [A-D] Four brooches of gold and stone. Hollow circular setting of thin gold, the back plain except for a beaded edging, the front with a beading between 2 plain lines: inset in front, a large cat's eye. A ring for suspension above and two below, let into rim: projecting from the rim and fixed into it by gold-capped bronze pins, carnelians, six on each side. (two of these are in position: the remaining ones found loose, one of the cat's eyes was found in position: the others had fallen out).
459D (none) (none) (none) [A-D] Four brooches of gold and stone. Hollow circular setting of thin gold, the back plain except for a beaded edging, the front with a beading between 2 plain lines: inset in front, a large cat's eye. A ring for suspension above and two below, let into rim: projecting from the rim and fixed into it by gold-capped bronze pins, carnelians, six on each side. (two of these are in position: the remaining ones found loose, one of the cat's eyes was found in position: the others had fallen out). [Drawing 1:1] 1 only A Phil. 2 Sent to Baghdad (B and D)
469 (none) 1923,1110.174 (none) Chain of beads. Long beads [drawing] thus, alternately of carnelian and lapis lazuli, uniform in size. 24 lapis and 23 carneliean, and 1 larger lapis, 1 large carnelian and 2 large agate beads: all had golden cap at each end of very thin gold (3 caps are missing) Found loose and strung together: but all were found close together and probably formed a single string. Photo no 45.
486 (none) (none) (none) Chalcedony seal [drawing]
488 (none) (none) (none) Agate seal. Same shape as U.486. subject [drawing]
489 (none) (none) (none) Chalcedony seal. Same shape as U.486. Subject [drawing]
490 (none) (none) (none) Agate seal. Oblong, oval, topped. Subject [drawing]
491 (none) 1923,1110.197 (none) Amethystine quartz seal. Pointed on top, like U.486, Subject, sphinx couchant.[drawing]
492 (none) 1923,1110.198 (none) Agate seal. Oval topped. Subject, sphinx. [drawing]
493 (none) (none) (none) Lapis lazuli seal, pointed topped, like U 486. Subject, a fish. [drawing]

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