Asphalts lowland

Lowland Asphalts. New analyses from four sites in the Mesopotamian lowland of Iraq are presented in Table V. Asphalts from Ur had been examined previously by three investigators, but none from the other three sites had been studied before. There was usually evidence of use. For example, three of the eight samples from Sakheri Sughir bore impressions of woven articles. All samples came from the third millennium... 

These lowland asphalts were alike in many respects. With one exception, all contained 17.5 it 5.0% bitumen, and the bitumens contained 7.5 it 1.0% sulfur both of these values closely resemble those from Eshnunna in Table III. Furthermore, the minerals were dark in... 

Like the lowland asphalts, the highland asphalts tend to be alike. With two exceptions all contained 27 it 9% bitumen, the bitumens contained 5.8 0.5% sulfur and typically 5% or less minerals, and the mineral color was medium in shade. Thus, they diflEer from the lowland... 

These analyses support a significant series of inferences with respect to the sources of asphalt. DiflEerences in asphalt composition, mineral color, and especially sulfur content of the bitumen indicate that lowland and highland asphalts were not derived from the same raw materials. Mesopotamian asphalts simply do not match those found in the usually earlier settlements along the Tigris tributaries. Presumably new sources upstream along the Euphrates were used. They would certainly be more convenient than overland shipment from the east. Lesser diflEerences... 

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