The underlying substance is Sumerian bitumen: a naturally occurring petroleum material (often called an asphalt-like “black goo”) long associated with waterproofing and adhesion, and even with ...

Archeology and decipherment -- History : heroes, kings, and ensi's -- Society : the Sumerian city -- Religion : theology, rite, and myth -- Literature : the Sumerian ...

Sumerians used advanced ancient technology to engineer bitumen with fibers and minerals, revealing sophisticated material science.

The story of how the first cities rose from southern Mesopotamia has long fascinated scientists and historians. Many explanations point to fertile soil, farming, and trade networks as the engines of ...

In the third millennium BC, one Sumerian ruler rose from Umma and briefly united the ancient city-states of southern Mesopotamia, even claiming to reach the Mediterranean. This chapter follows ...