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LOT 0233
Mesopotamian Cuneiform Foundation Nail
3RD-2ND MILLENNIUM B.C.
3 3/4 in. (322 grams, 96 mm).
Conical foundation nail fragment with broad domed top, columns of cuneiform text to the shank.
ProvenanceAcquired in London in 1995.
European private collection.
Cf. similar item in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, under accession no.45.90, for type.
FootnotesTemple nails or cones were placed in the foundations of newly-built temples. Their form imitates nails or pegs and they bear inscriptions stating the name of the reigning king and regnal year, and the god(s) to whom the temple was dedicated.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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