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Mesopotamian Technology

Welcome to our exploration of Mesopotamian technology, where we delve into the remarkable technological advancements and innovations that propelled the ancient civilization of Mesopotamia forward. Mesopotamia was a hub of invention and ingenuity, where the ancient Mesopotamians developed groundbreaking technologies that laid the foundation for future advancements.

In this section of our website, we invite you to step into the world of Mesopotamian technology, where each article unveils a different aspect of their technological prowess. From engineering marvels and irrigation systems to advancements in writing and mathematical notation, we unravel the complexity and brilliance that defined the technological landscape of ancient Mesopotamia.

Explore the impressive irrigation systems that transformed the arid landscapes of Mesopotamia into fertile agricultural fields. Learn about the construction of canals, reservoirs, and water management techniques that enabled the flourishing of agriculture and sustained the civilization.

Uncover the development of writing systems in Mesopotamia, including cuneiform, one of the earliest known forms of writing. Gain insights into the writing tools and materials used, the evolution of writing from pictographs to complex syllabic systems, and the role of scribes in preserving knowledge and recording historical events.

The Mesopotamian military represented here used weapons of war to achieve great success. Source: WILD HARE/Adobe Stock
3 January, 2024 - 16:57 Aleksa Vučković

Mesopotamian Military Mastery - The Ancient Reinvention of Warfare

Creating a great empire in ancient times was no simple task, and it usually involved a lot of warfare. Ancient Mesopotamia, called by many the cradle of civilization, was also the cradle of organized...
Mesopotamian clay balls have been unearthed in Iran. Source: Fair use
7 November, 2023 - 14:00 Joanna Gillan

Mesopotamian Clay Balls: Ancient Relics or Prehistoric Hard Drives?

Research conducted in late 2013 offered intriguing clues to decoding the secrets of the Mesopotamian clay balls, which date back 5,500 years. The study, which used CT scanning to look inside the clay...
Aerial view of the structure at Tel Shimron supporting the passageway to the corbelled vault. Credit: Eyecon. Source: Eyecon
23 August, 2023 - 22:55 Nathan Falde

Israel's Tel Shimron Excavations Reveal Ancient Architectural Marvel Dating to 1,800 BC

Archaeologists participating in the ongoing Tel Shimron excavations in the Jezreel Valley of northern Israel recently unearthed the first section of an arched, vaulted passageway with steps that they...
The drum has been used since ancient times for rituals and communication. Source: zolotareva_elina / Adobe Stock.
5 October, 2019 - 14:03 B. B. Wagner

Primeval Communication and the Beat of the Drum

Human beings need complex communication, no matter if it's through speech or music . The invention of drums has become an essential factor in all musical forms of artistic expression. It is through...
The Nimrud lens. Source: The British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
2 August, 2022 - 14:59 Joanna Gillan

Is the Assyrian Nimrud Lens the Oldest Telescope in the World?

The Nimrud lens is a 3,000-year-old piece of rock crystal unearthed by Sir John Layard in 1850 at the Assyrian palace of Nimrud, in modern-day Iraq. Since its discovery over a century ago, scientists...
Mesopotamian seals and cuneiform tablets found in Marad, Iraq. Source: Universita di Pisa
4 December, 2019 - 13:59 Ed Whelan

Cuneiform Tablets and ‘Envelopes’ Tell of Mesopotamian Sophistication

A team of Italian and Iraqi archaeologists has unearthed hundreds of cuneiform tablets in central Iraq. They also uncovered some clay coverings and seals with the tablets. The collection of cuneiform...
An aerial photo of the Tel Lachish in central Israel, which was quickly conquered by the Assyrians with their powerful siege ramp in 701 BC. The Assyrian siege ramp is the focus of a new study published in Oxford Journal of Archaeology. Source: The Lachish Expedition / Southern Adventist University
10 November, 2021 - 17:57 Sahir

New Study Reveals How Legendary Assyrian Siege Ramp Overcame Lachish

Israeli archaeologists have revealed the secrets behind the Assyrian siege ramp that conquered the ancient Judean town of Lachish. A recent study published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology shows...
Detail of a man depicted on an Uruk vase, Pergamon Museum. The Uruk civilization arose as it expertly adapted to the new climate.
19 October, 2017 - 18:56 Rob Mcroberts

Rising to the Challenge: Innovative Civilizations Advanced Through Climate Change

Beginning around 90,000 years ago, during an interglacial period, Anatomically Modern Humans were able to take advantage of the favorable climatic conditions and migrate throughout Africa and into...
From the royal tombs of Ur, the Standard of Ur mosaic, made of lapis lazuli and shell, shows peacetime.
3 August, 2018 - 13:57 dhwty

A Functional and Fertile Crescent: Technological Advancements in the Cradle of Civilization

The Fertile Crescent is the name given to the arc-shaped area of land that stretched across the Middle East from the northern end of the Gulf in the East to the Nile Valley in the West. It was here...
Ancient Mesopotamian boat unearthed near Uruk. Source: Julia Nador - Deutsches Archäologisches Institut / CC-BY-NC-ND
8 April, 2022 - 14:58 Cecilia Bogaard

4,000-Year-Old Mesopotamian Boat Near Uruk Rescued

4,000 years ago, a boat sank onto the bed of a channel of the Euphrates River, near the ancient city of Uruk. Now, archaeologists working in modern-day southern Iraq have been forced to conduct an...
Representation of an ancient Egyptian chariot.
28 May, 2017 - 02:00 David Waters

The Untold History of The Wheel And Its Evolution

The wheel can be considered mankind’s most important invention, the utility of which is still applied in multiple spheres of our daily life. While most other inventions have been derived from nature...
The Spectacular War Helmet of Meskalamdug, the Powerful King of Kish
22 June, 2016 - 03:37 dhwty

The Spectacular War Helmet of Meskalamdug, the Powerful King of Kish

The war helmet of Meskalamdug is an artifact that was discovered in one of the graves in the Royal Cemetery at Ur. This grave was found to have belonged to an ensi (roughly translated as ‘ruler’) of...
Sip Like a Sumerian: Ancient Beer Recipe Recreated from Millennia-Old Cuneiform Tablets
11 July, 2017 - 01:52 aprilholloway

Sip Like a Sumerian: Ancient Beer Recipe Recreated from Millennia-Old Cuneiform Tablets

Nowadays, people drink beer for its good taste and feel-good effects. However, thousands of years ago, beer played a much more central role in society. The Sumerian word for beer appears in many...
Iraqi Transport Minister Announces that Sumerians Launched Spaceships 7,000 Years Ago
4 October, 2016 - 17:56 aprilholloway

Iraqi Transport Minister Announces that Sumerians Launched Spaceships 7,000 Years Ago

The Minister for Transport in Iraq made a controversial speech at the inauguration of a new airport in southern Dhi Qar, in which he stated that ancient Sumerians built the first airports 7,000 years...
Pharaoh Tutankhamun riding a chariot
18 June, 2015 - 21:22 dhwty

Superweapon of the Ancient World: A History of Chariots - Part I

The chariot is often associated with the ancient Egyptian civilization. It became a prominent weapon of war during the New Kingdom. In fact, it is often considered a superweapon of the ancient world...