A SUMERIAN ALABASTER RECTANGULAR BOWL

A small alabaster dish with a rectangular rim, circular bowl, square bottom, two engraved lines running around the rim, and decorative cuts along the edges of the exterior.
Background: As clay was the most abundant material found in the Mesopotamian valley, stone was mostly imported due to its rarity in the area. Alabaster, gypsum, lapis lazuli, limestone and marble were the most popular stones to import. Sumerians traded crops grown from their fertile soil for the stone, as well as metal and wood. The growth of cities and powerful ruling families led to a demand for luxury items, especially objects made from stone that were mainly used in temples and tombs such as the famous Royal Graves at Ur (ca. 2500 BC).The amount of time and effort that went into making stone vessels gave them a much greater value as well, as they lasted longer than vessel made from clay.