DR. LEGRAIN, Curator of the Babylonian Section, is just returned from London where he was engaged in the division of last season’s finds of the Joint Expedition with the British Museum at Ur of the Chaldees. It is satisfactory to be able to report that the objects that have fallen by lot to the University Museum are valued additions to the collections, and, though the discoveries made last year were by no means so spectacular as those of the previous seasons, nevertheless the Museum’s share contains pieces of striking quality for exhibition as well as objects of first rate scientific importance.
Museum Object Number: 31-17-14
Outstanding in the Museum’s share of the finds is the finely wrought silver bowl belonging to the Persian period (539-331 B. C.) illustrated in the frontispiece. In a perfect state of preservation, and simply but beautifully decorated and fluted, this piece of plate is among the finest silver vessels of this epoch ever brought to light. A large and important bronze foundation figure with an accompanying steatite tablet hearing an inscription of Nabonidus (556-539 B. C.), two of the interesting pottery figurines of an extremely primitive type, illustrated in the Bulletin for last March, and a selection of early inscribed jar-sealings, together with a number of good examples of painted pottery vessels from the pre-dynastic levels, are the more important objects included in the shipment which is soon expected at the Museum. It is a satisfaction to know that the silver bowl of the Persian period, because of its importance, will temporarily remain in London, since by special request it is desired to place it in the Exhibition of Persian Art to be held in Burlington House during January and February of next year.
A summary of Mr. Woolley’s first report of the present season at Ur will be included in the next issue of the Bulletin.