The musical instruments from Ur and ancient Mesopotamian music

Article Abstract:

String and wind instruments excavated at the royal cemetery in the ancient city of Ur, combined with cuneiform tablets relating to these instruments, provide valuable information on ancient Mesopotamian music. Instruments which have been unearthed include lyres, harps and other wind instruments made of gold, silver, mother of pearl, cooper and lapis lazuli. Reconstruction of the instruments produced sounds similar to that of bass viol, cello and guitar, which when played together based on the cuneiform tablet music scales, sounded like modern Near Eastern music.

author: Kilmer, Anne Draffkorn
Usage, Music, Ur (Ancient city), Musical instruments, Stringed instruments

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Life on the edge of the marshes

Article Abstract:

The modern villages of Mi'dan and Beni Hassan along marshes near the archeological site of al-Hiba in Iraq utilize the same resources as those people in the ancient villages. Archeological findings from the ancient village of al-Hiba attest to the conclusion that the modern villages of the Mi'dans and Beni Hassans use mud or clay, wood, reeds, sheep, cattle and bitumen for purposes as those of their ancestors. One specific example is the construction of the arched reed houses in these modern villages.

author: Ochsenschlager, Edward
Villages

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On the track of the ancient Silk Road

Article Abstract:

Issues discussed concern the ancient civilizations along the Silk Road in Uzbekistan, a major trade route between Europe, the Middle East, and China during the Bronze Age. Topics addressed include the antiquities of the ancient city of Samarkand, and the architecture and art excavated from sites along the Silk Road.

author: Hiebert, Fredrik T.
Uzbekistan, Archaeology, Antiquities, Silk Road, Bronze age, Civilization, Ancient, Ancient civilization, Samarkand, Uzbekistan

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subjects list: History, Discovery and exploration, Iraq
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