CHIEFLY FROM NIPPUR. 239 



in its original upright position for more than 6000 years, and it was buried under a 

 mass of earth and dSbris long before Sargon I was born and Xaram-Sin fortified the 

 temple of Nippur. 1 



A second vase of similar size but different pattern 2 was discovered 77 cm. below 

 the former and nearly double the distance from the ancient brick curb. There is little 

 doubt in my mind that both vases, which stood in front of the altar, on its S.-S.-E. 

 side, one behind the other as one approached it, served some common purpose in con- 

 nection with the temple service at the pre-Sargonic time. 



Another section of earth adjoining the excavation which had yielded these 

 remarkable results was removed by Haynes. 



To the S.-E. of the altar described above, almost exactly under the E. corner of 

 Ur-Gur's ziggurrat and immediately below the pavement of RTaram-Sin, stood another 

 interesting structure. 3 It is 3 38 m. high, 4 7 m. square, " with a symmetrical and 

 double reentrant angle at its northern corner and built up solidly like a tower." Its 

 splendid walls, which exhibit no trace of a door or opening of any kind, are made 

 of large unbaked bricks of tenacious clay a somewhat smaller in size than those of 

 Naram-Sin's rampart. While examining the surroundings of this building, Haynes 

 found ten basketfuls of archaic water vents and fragments thereof on its S.-E. side 

 and on a level with its foundation. His curiosity was aroused at once, and after a 

 brief search underneath the spot where the greatest number of these terra-cotta vents 

 and cocks had been gathered, he came upon a drain which extended obliquely under 

 the entire breadth of this edifice. At its outer or discharging orifice he found the 

 most ancient keystone arch yet known in the history of architecture. The question 

 once asked by Perrot and Ohipiez 6 and answered by them with a "probably not," has 

 been definitely decided by the American expedition in favor of ancient Chaldsea. The 

 bottom of this valuable witness of pre-Sargonic civilization 7 was c. 7 m. below the 

 level of Ur-Gur's crude brick platform, 4.57 m. below the pavement of Nar&m-Sin, 

 and 1.25 m. below the foundations of the aforesaid building. The arch is 71 cm. high, 

 elliptical in form, and has a span of 51 cm. and a rise of 38 cm. Cf. PI. XXVIII, 



'It stood 3.05 m. below the pavement of Karam-Sia. 



2 la the form of a large jar, its diameter in the centre being larger than that at the top (Haynes, Report of Aug. 

 24, 1895). 



3 The following facts have been gathered from Haynes's Reports of Oct. 13, Nov. 24, 1894. 



4 Its foundations are therefore 3.38 m. below the level of Naram-Sin's pavement. 

 6 "Thoroughly mixed with finely cut straw and well kneaded." 



6 A History of Art in Chaldxa and Assyria, Vol. II, p. 234. 



7 Haynes, Reports of Oct. 13, 20, Nov. 24, 1894 ; Jan. 12, March 2, 1893. 



