Sumerian Foundation Cones

The Renaissance of Sumerian culture under the Kings of the third dynasty of Ur (2112 – 2004 BC) saw Mesopotamian bureaucracy and record keeping develop to a peak. The recovery of cast archives from the city states of Sumer such as Puzrish-dagan (modern drehem), Lagash (al hiba), Ur and Umma (jokha) has provided sumerologists with a super abundance of source material that gives information on many aspects of social and economic history.
The Sumerian Foundation Cone is an important piece of ancient Sumerian history.  Decorating the walls of temples with a pattern of small clay nails was a feature of the Sumerian early dynastic period. To insure that the temples of various Gods would last forever, they were built on sacred ground and the foundations were laid with great ceremony.  Special objects were carefully placed in the foundation and walls.  This foundation cone was one of the types of special objects that were commonly used.  They were usually covered with inscriptions and dedications to that event.  The cones were embedded into Temple foundations and usually gave the names of the Ruler and to what Gods the temple in question was dedicated to, so that if it fell into disrepair, it may be later rebuilt and re-dedicated accordingly.
Writing in ancient Mesopotamia evolved in response to a need for accurate record keeping.  Once the idea communicated by a series of consistent symbols was understood, the script was developed and was quickly pressed into practical service.  Cuneiform script evolved directly from picture drawings and became more and more stylized until a standard script was developed.  The first known cuneiform texts are from the ancient city of Uruk, in southern Iraq and dates from 3,000 BC.  They reveal a complex business structure already in operation.
Side by side with the economic texts were dedication texts.  The practice of consecrating the foundations of new buildings seems to have started almost as early as building itself.  In order to insure that the sanctuaries of the various Gods would last forever, they were built on sacred ground and the foundations were laid with great ceremony.  Special deposit objects were carefully placed in the foundations and walls.  Foundation deposits took many forms and inscribed clay cone and nails were often placed in the corners, and under entrance halls.  The inscriptions usually named the King and the deity to whom the sanctuary was being dedicated.
We have acquired a collection of ancient Babylonian cuneiform clay cones dating from 2,000 – 1,000 BC each with its own translation.  These cones are made of terracotta and stand from four to six inches tall.  Each on is mounted on a custom-made base.