Museum Exhibition for Ancient Law

Nicholas R. Miller
HIST-134 Ancient World History
1/25/2015

This museum exhibition focuses solely on law as a cultural theme within ancient
civilizations as law demonstrates a great amount about how society operates. The museum
gathered its artifacts from the Upper and Lower Zab River Valleys as well as in the Diyala Plains
Tell in the Middle East. Within each location, two major archaeological finds were uncovered.
This included legal documents ranging from court rulings and receipts as well as artifacts that
indicate some form of authority or government.
The first artifacts in the museum are the court documents. Within the Upper Zab River
Valley, at dig site #3, a litigation document was found. The document dates back to 1726 BCE
and serves to keep records for an ancient courthouse. The implication here is
that there must have been some sort of rule or law if there is a legal court
document. The courthouse would be a place where legal decisions might be
made in regards to resolving any conflict, or deciding punishments to be

Litigation Document,
1726 BCE

made. In addition to the litigation document, a legal decision of judges

was found. This document was found in the Upper Zab River Valley at dig site #2, and it dates
back to 1900 BCE. This document again reinforces the idea that even ancient civilizations
exercised law since this document contains an actual court ruling.
The second pair of artifacts within this museum are legal receipts
uncovered in the Lower Zab River Valley. At dig site #2, a tax receipt

Legal Decision of Judges,

1900 BCE

dating back to 1634 BCE was discovered. This tax receipt serves as legal
proof that someone paid taxes to his or her kingdom. This suggest that people
might have been required by law to pay taxes. Also, it suggests that there is a
Tax Receipt, 1634 BCE

governing authority that was responsible for collecting all of the taxes. The second receipt was

found at dig site #3. This receipt was a written record for a purchase of several oxen and
provides proof of ownership. This is significant in portraying the idea that law is a cultural them
in ancient civilizations because this proof of ownership could be used as evidence
within a legal dispute. That is, if something happens to this persons oxen, such as
one being stolen by a neighbor, then this proof could be used to indicate that the
ox belonged to the original owner.

Receipt for Oxen,

2041 BCE

Lastly, this museum showcases artifacts which indicate the existence of

high rulers or authorities within ancient civilizations. These artifacts demonstrate law is a
cultural theme because authorities would be the figures responsible for establishing order and
law to their lands. The method in which authorities do this may vary, but it is a reasonable
assumption to make that law is a factor in civilizations with ruling powers. First, there is a chair
back, coming from the Diyala Plains Tell at dig site #1. This artifact dates
back to 800 BCE and it was probably used by someone very important. The
important figure could have been a wealthy man or a high priest. However,
the important figure could also be a king. If there is a king for the civilization

Chair Back, 800 BCE

the artifact came from, it makes sense to suggest there is law and order. Second, there is a statue
of Gudea, coming from the Diyala Plains Tell at dig site #2. This artifact is much older, dating
back to 2090 BCE. This artifact is special because Gudea is believed to be an
ancient ruler of the city of Lagash, reigning for about twenty years. Regardless, a
ruler implies the existence of a government, and a government implies the existence
of law and enforcement. That is why this artifact is special towards indicating the
cultural theme of law in ancient civilizations.

Statue of Gudea,
2090 BCE

This museum only showcases six artifacts indicating the cultural theme of law, all
obtained from six different dig sites within the Middle East. It is safe to expect more artifacts
could be found elsewhere which also suggest the same cultural theme.