Show First Precious l Stone Lovers So far as is known the earliest inhabitants of Mesopotamia were the first nation in history to recognize the ornamental value ol of semi-precious semi stones and to under under- understand understand stand and practice the art of stonecutting stone- stone stonecutting stonecutting cutting for the purpose of making cylinder seals signet rings beads and other jewelry Great quantities of beads of agate carnelian and lapis lazuli were excavated years ago from the ruins of the ancient city of Kish by the Field Oxford Museum-Oxford university joint ex ex- expedition expedition to Mesopotamia |