Editing Sumer (section)

===Art===
{{see also|Stele of the Vultures|Royal Cemetery at Ur}}
[[File:Royal Tombs of Ur Objects from tomb PG 580.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Gold dagger from Sumerian tomb PG 580, [[Royal Cemetery at Ur]].]]
The Sumerians were great artists. Sumerian artefacts show great detail and ornamentation, with fine semi-precious stones imported from other lands, such as [[lapis lazuli]], [[marble]], and [[diorite]], and precious metals like hammered gold, incorporated into the design. Since stone was rare it was reserved for sculpture. The most widespread material in Sumer was clay, as a result many Sumerian objects are made of clay. Metals such as gold, silver, copper, and bronze, along with shells and gemstones, were used for the finest sculptures and inlays. Small stones of all kinds, including more precious stones such as lapis lazuli, alabaster, and serpentine, were used for [[cylinder seal]]s.

Some of the most famous masterpieces are the Lyres of Ur, which are considered to be the world's oldest surviving [[stringed instrument]]s. They were discovered by [[Leonard Woolley]] when the [[Royal Cemetery of Ur]] was excavated between 1922 and 1934.
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Cylinder seal and modern impression- ritual scene before a temple facade MET DP270679.jpg|Cylinder seal and impression in which appears a ritual scene before a temple façade; 3500–3100 BC; bituminous limestone; height: 4.5&nbsp;cm; [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] (New York City)
Raminathicket2.jpg|''[[Ram in a Thicket]]''; 2600–2400 BC; gold, copper, shell, lapis lazuli and limestone; height: 45.7&nbsp;cm; from the [[Royal Cemetery at Ur]] ([[Dhi Qar Governorate]], Iraq); [[British Museum]] (London)
Denis Bourez - British Museum, London (8747049029) (2).jpg|''[[Standard of Ur]]''; 2600–2400 BC; shell, red limestone and lapis lazuli on wood; length: 49.5&nbsp;cm; from the Royal Cemetery at Ur; British Museum
Bull's head ornament for a lyre MET DP260070.jpg|Bull's head ornament from a lyre; 2600–2350 BC; bronze inlaid with shell and [[lapis lazuli]]; height: 13.3&nbsp;cm, width: 10.5&nbsp;cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art
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