ANCIENT WORLD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 24 June 1926, Page 5

ANCIENT WORLD

DISCOVERIES AT KISH

Discoveries at Kisli show that the Sumerian occupation of Central Mesopotamia (Akkad) is older than any Sumerian civilisation that lias been found in the south. This historical conclusion is drawn by Professor Langdon, now in charge of the excavations at Kisli. It is thus definitely proved that the Sumerians arrived in 'Mesopotamia from the north or north-east. The name is derived from a combination of “shunter” and “Akkad,” then two mighty provinces of Babylonia, and the meaning is “Ihe land of reeds,” file delta of marsh formed by the Rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Professor Langdon announces that important discoveries have been made at Jamlet Nazi, a newlv-opened site sixteen miles north-east of Kisli. It is the oldest, site that has yet ben discovered in Akkad, and beyond question the antiquities are very early Sumerian. One very important find is a number of small clay tablets with the oldest pictograpliie writing and linear script on record. These are older than any of the pictograpliie tablets discovered in .Mesopotamia, Professor Langdon oxidants that the writing on the newlvfourid tablets belongs to the same period as the writing on the famous piclngrnphic stone tablet from Kish. Another important discovery is a great number of painted pots, many of which are in perfect condition. There is a complete series, lint 1 1 sprouted and plain, with handles and four knobs for suspension, with cups. No other similar find lias boon made in Northern or Southern Iraq, declares Professor .Langdon. The series belongs to the so-called "geometric” pottery—the second period following the earliest time of the thin eggshell painted ware found at Susa, of which two complete specimens have been found at Ur. Most of the newlydiscovered pottery is of the geometric form, but occasionally there are naturalistic designs—possibly depicting wildfowl.

There are a number of designs in black and red of the palm leaf, some with a five-pointed star in black paint, others with spirals in red. A great many have the familiar black and red lozenge design common at Susa, and others have the checker design usually placed between two bands. At Kisli itself extensive excavations are proceeding on the stage tower and temolo called lfarsagkalama. consecrated to the earth goddess. The tower was built of plano-convex brinks i.f the earliest period. Initial work revealed a number of earlv Sumerian graves, with stone bowls or marble and gypsum. The mi< = t remarkable discovery is a i.ne-liandled jar painted with palm leaves in black arid red vertical Lands edged with black.