Ur: The City of the Moon God (Archaeological Histories)

The ancient Mesoptamian city of Ur was a Sumerian city statewhich flourished as a centre of trade and civilisation between2800–2000 BCE. However, in the recent past it suffered from thedisastrous Gulf war and from neglect. It still remains a potentsymbol for people of all faiths and will have an important role toplay in the future.This account of Ur's past looks at both the ancient city and itsevolution over centuries, and its archaeological interpretation inmore recent times. From the 19th century explorers and theiridentification of the site of Mukayyar as the Biblical city of Ur,the study proceeds to look in detail at the archaeologist LeonardWoolley and his key discoveries during the 1920s and 30s. Using thefindings as a framework and utilising the latest evidence fromenvironmental, historical and archaeological studies, the volumeexplores the site's past in chronological order from the Ubaidperiod in the 5th millennium to the death of Alexander. It looks indetail at the architectural remains: the sacred buildings, royalgraves and also the private housing which provides a unique recordof life 4000 years ago. The volume also describes the part playedby Ur in the Gulf war and discusses the problems raised forarchaeologists in the war's aftermath.