Obverse and Reverse of a Seal, published [in the same sequence as in the photograph] in Vats 1940, Vol. II, Pl. XCI, field No. 255.
Title: ‘Rhomboidal Steatite Seal’, no. 255.
Found from Pit IV Mound AB, Vats noted: “Pit IV was excavated to a depth of 10 ft. to 11 ft. 6 in. On its eastern side was found a small room of Stratum IV which measures 7 ft. 7 in. by 6 ft. 8 in. internally, and is bisected by a covered drain coming from the north side. Behind this room, a little higher than the drain, was a fragmentary brick-on-edge pavement of Stratum III, with a contemporary wall to its left (PI. XXXIV, a). In the west part of this pit there are four or five broken walls of the Illrd stratum. The following antiquities belonging to Strata I and IV were found here. Of these, the unique rhomboidal seal with undulating edges, engraved with the figure of a flying eagle, deserves special notice.”
“Stratum I--
1. Fragment of a rectangular steatite seal with two pictograms surviving.
L. I in. No. PIV-19 ; Depth 1 ft. 8 in. b.s.
2. Rhomboidal steatite seal with undulating edges. On one side is a flying eagle with snakes (?) above the wings. On the other, is a cross with triangles between the arms. PI. XCI, 255. Diagonals I 5/8 and I 1/4 in. No. PIV-85 ; Depth 2 ft. b.s.” (p. 169)
- Vats, M.S. 1940, Vol. I, p. 169.
The side, possibly with the flying Eagle, as described by Vats, published in ARASI 1924-25, Plate XXVIII 12. Title of the plate: ‘Seals and Other Objects’
Sahni noted the find “in the area between the trench ‘ Ae ’ … and the long trench A”, where “a large rectangular cutting A(f), 89'X 66', was made and excavated to the depth of about 6' below the surface. … This trench yielded a large number of stone mortars and pestles which recall the practice of burying such objects with the dead in Mesopotamian sites. It is noteworthy that no hand mills for grinding corn were found anywhere on the site. Another building in this trench of which only a small fragment had survived, was provided with a spill jar which was photographed in position. Plate XXIV (d) shows the contents of a large funeral jar found in this trench. The portable antiquities recovered included several seals and faience objects (Plate XXVIII)”.
- Daya Ram Sahni, ARASI 1924-25, p. 77.