Prehistoric mystery: toys or votive carts?

The Louvre Museum in Paris has put a number of animal figurines mounted on little carriages on display as part of a valuable deposit from Iran.

The relics, unearthed in the early 20th century near the temple of Inshushinak - belonging to the ancient city of Susa in southwestern Iran - were unearthed by French mining engineer and archaeologist Jean-Jacques de Morgan (1857 – 1924).

The collection consists of a wide range of items assembled under the brilliant Shutrukid dynasty in the late 2nd millennium BC.

Several animal figurines on casters, tablets and wheels found in isolation signify the widespread existence of these mobile objects, toys or votive carts in Susa.

The function of these animals on casters may be considered as toys or as votive carts carrying figurines; however, it is not yet clear.

Aiming to reveal the evidence of Elamite civilization as well as discovering the very origins of eastern civilization, Morgan started his excavation in Susiana.

A special treaty signed by Mozaffar ed-Din Shah Qajar in 1900 led the French archeologist to take the findings to the Louvre in Paris.

In this way, the Louvre was to function as the depository of a complete set of archaeological material, containing the mentioned artifacts as well as the Code of Hammurabi, the victory stele of Naram-Sin and Elamite antiquities such as a large bronze table displaying the unique skill of the Elamite metalworkers of the time.

Susa bears exceptional testimony to the Elamite, Persian and Parthian civilizations and cultural traditions. The modern Iranian town of Shush is built up at the site of ancient Susa.

MG/AI