UR OF THE CHALDEES.

Grey River Argus, 14 January 1928, Page 5

UR OF THE CHALDEES.

TOMB REVEALS Remarkable Treasures. BODIES HUDDLED TOGETHER. AS IF SUDDENLY SMITTEN TO DEATH. (A or. ar A Nz. Imb). LONDON, January 12. The second tomb dated 3500 before Christ, discovered in Ur of the Chaldees, contained treasure more remarkable than the Prince’s previously found, says the British Museum. The offerings to the dead include golden vessels, toilet sets, saws, axes, spears, gaming board with men, lapis dice inlaid with gold, scores of silver cups, vases, many nested within others, in groups of five, and the remains of a chariot, the wood of which has disappeared, decorated with golden heads of lions, bulls, with lapis manes, silver panthers, the heads surmounted by a realistically sculptured electrum figure of a donkey. The bodies of the asses, by which it was pulled lay beside the pole, the harness being of copper and silver. Also the remains of a twelvestringed harp, ornamented with goldHOUSEHOLD BURIED WITH KING. NEW YORK. January 12. Further details of the grave discovered in Ur of the Chaldees, show that besides being rich in treasures, it is strewn with bodies of musicians, servants. and gold-decked women of the harem, who accompanied their master in death. The body of the King himself was not found amongst the score of men and women constituting the household. The discoveries offer proof that in the fourth millenium 8.C.. there were practised in Mesopotamia, burial ceremonies about which later tradition was silent, and archaelogists hitherto knew nothing. Two grooms stood at the head of the ass in each chariot, still holding the reins. A third lay by their side, piled against the clothes chest, where human bodies were huddled up as if suddenly smitten by death. Thir-, teen more bodies were found near the chariot, two of these being children. The others were apparently women., All were dressed alike, with elaborate headdress and veils, from which hung gold pendants. Undoubtedly, these belonged to the dead King’s harem. In a rectangle stood large limestone blocks probably forming the altar on which the victims were sacrificed. The Royal grave illustrates the extraordinary degree of material civilisation Mesopotamia enjoyed in the fourth millenium. It seems to have been far in advance of contemporary Egypt. It shows that art was already old and stereotyped and even decadent.