The Sumerian World (Routledge Worlds)

Mesopotamia, Meluhha, and those in between

Bitumen in worked shells

Figure 31.7 Harappan-related material from one compound at R ’as al-Jinz in eastern Oman

(adapted from Cleuziou andTosi 2007: fig. 23; courtesy of Maurizio Tosi and the Ministry of

Heritage and Culture, Oman)

the Emirati coast or perhaps to Dilmun. This would have allowed these intermediaries
to benefit from the Mesopotamians’ unquenchable thirst for Harappan-made luxury
goods in the Early Dynastic III period (e.g., long carnelian beads; see Chakrabarti
1993). By the time of Sargon (c.2300 BC), this situation had changed dramatically. Now,
the demand was so great that ships from Dilmun, Magan, and Meluhha were used
to fulfill the consumer needs of Mesopotamian society. The societies of these three

Harappan-style

painted jar

Bitumen fragments from the coating of a boat

Harappan-style ivory comb

Harappan

stamp seal

(^0) 5 cm
10m