Sumerian Gold Wreath in the University of Pennsylvania Museum, November 2009

Wreath
Gold, Lapis lazuli, and carnelian
2550-2450 BCE
Ur, Iraq (PG789)

# B16740

Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.


Gold

Gold would have been imported from Anatolia, Iran, and the Indus valley. At Ur, golden objects are almost always made of alloys of gold and coppper or gold and silver. Pure gold is extremely rare. This is probably both because gold was a scarce and precious commodity, and because the color and appearance of the alloys was preferred. Gold and copper alloy is reddish, whild gold and silver (electrum) is silvery.

Text from the U. Penn. Museum label.