Mesopotamian Archaeology / An introduction to the archaeology of Mesopotamia and Assyria

A concise survey of the archaeology and material culture of ancient Babylonia and Assyria, outlining the land, peoples, and a sketch of historical development. It reviews major excavations and the process by which cuneiform inscriptions were deciphered, then summarizes the corpus of texts and their forms. Detailed chapters examine architecture, sculpture, metallurgy, painting, cylinder seals, ivory and shell work, terracotta and pottery, and related artistic techniques, accompanied by illustrations. The work also treats dress, military accoutrements, law, religion, daily life, and customs, and concludes with a short bibliography and a brief chronological list to guide further study.