The term Western Asiatic traditionally refers to ancient cultures of the Levant, Mesopotamia and Anatolia. This includes diverse historical periods and people such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, Assyrians, Hittites, Phoenicians.
In the ancient world, seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership – as such, they were instrumental in legal transactions, and in the protection of goods against theft. Seals were often made of stone however there are also examples rendered in bone, ivory, faience, glass, metal, wood, and even sun-dried or baked clay. Seal amulets with stylised animals have been found throughout Mesopotamia in contexts dating to the late fourth millennium BC, although stamp seals and cylinder seals were the predominant types in the ancient Near East.
For more about stamp seals, see our relevant blog post: Making their Mark: A Concise Guide to Western Asiatic Stamp Seals
