How the people of Mesopotamia invented an identification system

One of the most recognisable but least known inventions of ancient Mesopotamia were cylindrical seals - miniature stone rollers with which the inhabitants of the Middle Ages "signed" documents. These tiny artefacts, not exceeding five centimetres in height, were not only a utilitarian tool, but also a reflection of the personality, social status and outlook of their owner.

The Conversation reports that.

Mesopotamia, located between the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, gave mankind many innovations - from writing and cities to the first states. Cylindrical seals, which appeared about 6,000 years ago, became another symbol of civilisation.

Each seal was a cylinder of semi-precious stones - lapis lazuli, chalcedony or agate, on the surface of which master engravers applied images and inscriptions in the intaglio technique. When the cylinder was rolled on wet clay, a relief imprint was left on the tablet - a sign that the document was approved by the owner. In this sense, ancient seals were direct predecessors of modern autographs and even digital signatures.

Materials and manufacturing techniques depended on the wealth and position of the owner. Elite seals were carved from rare stones brought from afar: diorite was brought from Oman, lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, carneol and agate from the Indus Valley. Only nobles, priests and officials could afford such things. Commoners used products made of limestone, clay or glass.

However, it was not only the cost of the material that determined the value of the seal. Each of them contained unique images and inscriptions that told about the owner. The name, ancestry, profession and even gender of the person were inscribed on the stone. Researchers have found evidence that wealthy women also had seals - though much less often than men.

People also expressed their religious affiliation through images and texts. Cylinders contain prayers addressed to personal deities and scenes of worship depicting gods and worshippers.

The seals were created by special masters - stone carvers. Their work required jeweller's precision: the image had to be carved in mirror image to make it look right when rolled. The subjects ranged from domestic scenes and military episodes to mythological plots with gods, heroes and fantastic creatures.

Sometimes royal officials personally approved the design on the seal, especially if it was intended for courtiers. There are assumptions that some seals were made in advance - with popular motifs and then finalised for a particular client. However, most of the copies found, especially the elite ones, were individual orders.

Losing one's seal was considered a bad sign, as it symbolised not only power but also a person's identity. Modern signatures - paper or electronic - lack this individuality, but the idea of self-affirmation and responsibility for the word has its roots in Mesopotamia.

Cylindrical seals, like writing, religion and state administration, were the cornerstones of the ancient civilisation of the Middle Ages. Although their purpose has changed, the very concept of personal identification and symbolic confirmation of one's will is still alive today.