Votive Deposits in Early Dynastic Temples

Between 2900 and 2330 BCE, the Euphrates and Tiger alluvial plain was the site of kingdoms known to be the first to use writing in both an intensive and an extensive way and within different contexts, from practical to political, economic, religious or historical ones. Along with this decisive evolution, for the first time human settlements clearly witnessed the existence of hierarchical political and religious systems as parts of an interregional network. While we can find many examples of diversity between them, these first historical kingdoms share many features and noticeable similarities. The deposition of goods in temples is one of these although it obviously followed different processes. Starting with the beginning of excavations in this region at the end of the 19th century, recognition of this phenomenon yielded quantities of objects, mostly linked by their types and qualities. Even if variation between the contexts was recognized, all drew attention to the actual links between parts of the society and the divinities once honoured to which they are a testimony. Even though Early Dynastic kings are linked to gods in many special ways, this trend did not lead to the exclusion of other parts of society from being represented in the temples, at least through their deposition of goods. In turn, this can be viewed as the reflection of a different approach to the temple as an institution, to religion or to power itself, and must be considered as one of the key features of Early Dynastic societies. This volume offers a set of recent studies presented at the 10th ICAANE. It brings together scholars whose works provide evidence of how an integrative approach mixing concept, context, text, materiality and symbols can give a more realistic account of this diverse phenomenon and its relevance in a historical perspective.