A Seal You Could Sign With

No two cylinder seals were alike, and that was the point. Each carving belonged to one person, so a single roll across clay worked like a personal signature on a contract or a jar of goods.

The carving was cut in reverse and inside-out, so the image only made sense once it was rolled. Getting that right at thumbnail size, by hand, is the real marvel — and proof of how skilled these carvers were.