Seals of the IVB layer of Hasanlu, inter-regional trade sign

Seals are one of the most important archaeological findings that have been obtained from the ancient areas in Near East region. These objects which form an important part of the material culture of the people of the neolithic to the historical period can provide official, economical, cultural, ritual, and mythological information. In this regard, Hasanlu IVB seals are of paramount importance which are analyzed in this poster. The archaeological site of Hasanlu is located in western Coast of Urumia Lake in Sulduz Valley in Azerbaijan which can be considered as Iran's cultural box. In the ancient Middle East, small stamp and cylinder seals with carved designs have been found which indicate the property rights and controlling contents of the storages and are a symbol of authority. Hasanlu‘s seals corpus includ 105 seals, dated to the period IVB (Iron Age II i.e. 1100-800 B.C). These objects have been discovered from buildings as well as cemeteries. Based on stylistics and iconographical designs, they can be divided into four types; two of them are locals and two others originated from abroad. Based on the motifs on the seals, we can point out an inter-regional trade network of that period.

Iron age, Seal, Hasanlu, Inter-regional Trade