Ur

The ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur flourished as a centre of trade and civilisation between 2800 and 2000 BCE. It has suffered from the disastrous Gulf war and from neglect but still remains a potent symbol for people of all faiths. This account of Ur's past looks at the ancient city's evolution over centuries and its archaeological interpretation in more recent times since 19th-century explorers identified the site. Detailing the archaeologist Leonard Woolley's key discoveries during the 1920s and 30s, and utilising the evidence from environmental, historical and archaeological studies, the volume explores the site's past from the 5th millennium to the death of Alexander. It looks in detail at the sacred buildings, royal graves, and also the private housing that provides a unique record of life 4,000 years ago. The volume also describes the part played by Ur in the Gulf war and discusses the problems raised for archaeologists in the war's aftermath. -- from back cover.