1. A brief introduction to your chosen theme.

What is it and why did you

choose it? The theme I chose from my Archaeological Dig was Art. Art from the
past gives us clues to how life during that time was. By taking a look at the
symbolism and materials that were used to create the piece of art, we can learn
about the culture that produced it. By choosing to examine art from the past and
taking a good look into the detail that was put into the pieces in question, its
almost as if we can take a clock and rewind the time back and experience what It
would be like to live in a time period different from our own. When you think
about it, our environment is filled with artifacts of human history, painting,
architecture and sculpture. Having Art History provides us with the tools needed
to understand these forms. Art from the past gives us a visual representation of the
history that took place. Besides ancient buildings and ruins, historical paintings,
sculpture, and decorative arts are the only things we have access to be able to see
what others thought, believed, wore, and interacted.

2. The following photo was discovered at the second dig site in the Upper Zab River
Valley. It is known as the Relief of Servants and is from the time period 358-338 BCE.
As described in the photo, a Relief is a piece of ancient artwork carved into stone. This
one depicts servants attending to important guests who could possibly be religious
leaders, political rulers or even just a wealthy citizen. Like stated in the intro pieces of art
history contain symbolism and can tell stories, just as this piece clearly does with the
servant kneeled down to the higher power person.

The following photo was discovered at the third dig site in the Upper Zab River Valley. It
is known as Cylinder Seal and it is from the time period 2600-2350 BCE. Using a clay
tablet and a carving on a cylindrical object that was rolled across the clay created this art.
Referring to the introduction once again, we can learn what culture may have created this
art by the materials and methods they used to create it.
The following photo was discovered at the first dig site in the Lower Zab River Valley. It
is known as a Vessel and is from the time period 2600-2350 BCE. This vessel is actually
a piece of functional art. Besides having a detailed face of a young girl, there is also a
bowl carved out on top that may have been used to carry oil, perfume, or wine to
religious ceremonies. Again, we can learn from this piece of art how this artwork was
incorporated into ceremonies and what culture may have created it.

The following photo was discovered at the second dig site in the Lower Zab River
Valley. It is known as the Statuette of Lama and is from the time period 1307-1282 BCE.
From studying this piece of art we learn that this is a statue of a goddess of protection for
warriors or citizens in general. This statue would have been seen as an idol to worship
and pray to when someone needed protection. Just like it was stated the intro, you can
almost put yourself in the place of the citizens that took may have taken part in
worshiping this statue.

The following photo was discovered at the second dig site in the Lower Zab River
Valley. It is known as a Warrior Statue and is from the time period 300 BCE. This statue
could have been used as a trophy or used to tell stories of military victories. Art tells
visual stories of history just like this statue does.
The following photo was discovered at the first dig site of the Diyala Plains Tell. It is
known as a Banquet Scene ad is from the time period 2600-2500 BCE. The clay tablet
shows servants and guests at a banquet and could have been used as a historical record of
an event. Again we relate back to the intro with art being able to show visuals of events
within history.