A Near Eastern Steatite Stamp Seal, Late Neolithic Period, ca. 5300 - 5100 BCE Byzantine still a lovely example overall

still a lovely example overall

polychrome

The interior of the shank is inscribed:  c1989 Ariadne 22KT

Strung as a pendant on an 18K yellow gold chain adjustable up to 18 inches

with strong linear detailing and hatched elements characteristic of Sitio Conte iconography

A Near Eastern Steatite Stamp Seal, Late Neolithic Period, ca. 5300 - 5100 BCE Byzantine still a lovely example overallCarved from grey steatite, this example is of oval form and a raised central drill hole, the base incised with horizontal bands bisected by diagonal lines. Stamp seals were used in a similar way to modern signet rings: a negative object used to impress a design into another material, often clay. They are common from around 7000 BCE and have remained in continuous use in parts of the world to the present day. cf: Denham, Simon, Late Neolithic and Early