Seal impressions in Mesopotamia in Prehistoric and Historical Eras

     Archaeological excavations in Mesopotamia have revealed many flat and cylindrical seal impressions. Seal impressions are as important as the seals themselves, and perhaps even more so, as many different impressions have been found while the seal itself has not been found. The seal impression is considered an official signature and is a distinctive symbol of the seal owner that proves his ownership of the thing that bears the seal impression and gives it official status, whether the thing is a material stored in a clay jar or a contract concluded between two parties or a message sent by one of them to the other.

      The importance of the research lies in tracing the emergence and development of the use of seal impressions in Mesopotamia since prehistoric times through historical ages and up to the modern Babylonian era. By tracing and studying these impressions through the ages, it became clear that they have economic, legal, administrative, religious, political, security, historical, geographical and finally artistic importance.