Quantitative data on the main classes and categories of clay figurines from 3rd millennium BCE Mesopotamia

This dataset systematically collects and classifies published quantitative data on the main classes and categories of clay figurines from 3rd millennium BCE Mesopotamia. It covers sites in modern-day Iraq and Syria situated between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, for which there is representative data available, i.e. the total number of figurines found at a given site within defined contextual or chronological frameworks. Sites that produced fewer than ten specimens have been excluded.The dataset consists of four Excel spreadsheets and a separate text file containing references. Spreadsheet AZ includes quantitative data on the two main types of figurines (anthropomorphic and zoomorphic), while spreadsheet ACat includes quantitative data on the four main morphological categories of anthropomorphic figurines (pillar-shaped, standing, cone/cylindrical-shaped, and seated). Spreadsheet ZCat includes quantitative data on the three main morphological categories of zoomorphic figurines (solid, wheeled and hollow), while spreadsheet ZSpec includes quantitative data on the kinds of animals represented among zoomorphic figurines (equids, sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, birds, other quadrupeds and unidentified quadrupeds). However, not all sites provided data on all of the listed figurine classes and categories. CHRONOLOGY The chronology of the figurine corpora from North Mesopotamia was established based on the results of the ARCANE project (see Quenet 2011; Finkbeiner 2015; Renette 2019). The applied periodisation is based on regional systems for the Middle Euphrates (Early Middle Euphrates/EME 1–5 periods), Jazirah (Early Jazirah/EJZ 1–5), and Tigris (Early Tigridian/ETG 1–9) regions (see, for example, Lebeau 2018: x). For South Mesopotamia, however, the traditional system is used, which is largely based on historical periodisation and division into the Early Dynastic (ED) I–III, Akkadian, and Ur III periods. CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM The classification of the figurines in the dataset as either anthropomorphic or zoomorphic, as well as the identification of the kinds of animals represented among the zoomorphic figurines, follows the identification given in the original publication.Despite the very general nature of these classification systems, limitations exist. Anthropomorphic figurines attached to the back of zoomorphic ones fall outside this system if they are found complete. If broken, they can easily be misclassified as either zoomorphic or anthropomorphic. In the dataset, they are added to the anthropomorphic figurines if traces of such are recognised, otherwise they remain with the zoomorphic group.Quadrupeds that cannot be identified at species level (mostly due to their state of preservation) also escape the system, as do figurines of uncertain identification involving two kinds of animal (e.g. sheep and goats) as described in the original publication. In the dataset, they are included in the 'unidentified quadrupeds' category.The identification of the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurine categories follows either the classification provided in the original publication or is based on the published illustrations of the figurines. Spreadsheets providing data on the anthropomorphic and zoomorphic figurine categories do not include figurines of uncertain classification.Anthropomorphic figurines have been divided into four categories: pillar-shaped, standing, cylindrical/cone-shaped, and seated.Pillar-shaped figurines are typically baked, with no rendering of the genitalia or legs. While the upper portions of these figurines are characterised by an abundance of detail, the lower portions are almost invariably plain and devoid of decoration (Sakal 2018: 225–226).Standing figurines have clearly defined legs and are often set on a small, flat bases. These figurines are typically elaborately decorated. A distinct subcategory comprises female figurines stylised into a violin shape (Sakal 2018: 227).Cylindrical and cone-shaped figurines are usually crude and unsmoothed, with few marked details, and are either unbacked or only lightly fired (Sakal 2018: 225).Seated figurines either have legs that are lowered below seat level and are designed to be seated on a separately modelled object, or they are integrated with a stool or feature a projection along the back, enabling vertical placement.Zoomorphic figurines are divided into three major categories. The first category includes solid figurines. The second category comprises wheeled figurines that are adapted for mounting on axles with wheels and, in most cases, a string for pulling them. This category includes solid and hollow figurines/vessels shaped like whole animals, which may have openings in the torso walls and/or spouts in the head.Specimens in the hollow figurines category are not adapted for mounting on axles and wheels. These are predominantly flutes and rattles. REFERENCES Finkbeiner, U. (2015). Stratigraphy. In U. Finkbeiner, M. Novák, F. Sakal, and P. Sconzo (eds), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean. Vol. 4, Middle Euphrates (pp. 17–40). Turnhout: Brepols Lebeau, M. (2018). Foreword. In M. Lebeau (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean, Interregional. Vol. 2, Artefacts (pp. ix–x). Turnhout: Brepols Quenet, P. (2011). Stratigraphy. In M. Lebeau (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Vol. 1, Jezirah (pp. 19–47). Turnhout: Brepols Renette, S. (2019). Stratigraphy. In E. Rova (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Vol. 5, Tigridian Region (pp. 21–44). Turnhout: Brepols Sakal, F. (2018). Anthropomorphic terracotta figurines. In M. Lebeau (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean, Interregional. Vol. 2, Artefacts (pp. 221–243). Turnhout: Brepols本数据集系统收集并分类了公元前3千纪美索不达米亚（Mesopotamia）地区各类主要黏土塑像（clay figurines）的已发表定量数据。其覆盖范围为现代伊拉克与叙利亚境内幼发拉底河（Euphrates）和底格里斯河（Tigris）之间的遗址，且这些遗址均具备代表性数据——即在明确的背景或年代框架下，某遗址出土的塑像总数量。出土标本少于10件的遗址已被排除。 本数据集包含4个Excel电子表格（Excel spreadsheets）与1个单独的参考文献文本文件。电子表格AZ收录了两大类塑像：人形塑像（anthropomorphic figurines）与兽形塑像（zoomorphic figurines）的定量数据；电子表格ACat收录了人形塑像的4个主要形态类别：柱形（pillar-shaped）、立姿（standing）、锥形/圆柱形（cone/cylindrical-shaped）与坐姿（seated）的定量数据。电子表格ZCat收录了兽形塑像的3个主要形态类别：实心（solid）、带轮（wheeled）与空心（hollow）的定量数据；电子表格ZSpec收录了兽形塑像所代表的动物种类的定量数据，包括马科动物（equids）、绵羊、山羊、牛、犬、鸟类、其他四足动物及未鉴定四足动物（unidentified quadrupeds）。不过，并非所有遗址都提供了所有所列塑像类别与子类的数据。 ## 年代学 北美索不达米亚地区塑像组的年代学框架基于ARCANE项目的研究成果确立（参见Quenet 2011；Finkbeiner 2015；Renette 2019）。所采用的分期体系基于三个区域的系统：中幼发拉底河地区（早中幼发拉底河时期/EME 1–5）、杰济拉地区（早杰济拉时期/EJZ 1–5）以及底格里斯地区（早底格里斯时期/ETG 1–9）（例如参见Lebeau 2018: x）。而南美索不达米亚地区则采用传统分期体系，该体系主要基于历史时期分期，分为早王朝（ED）I–III期、阿卡德时期与乌尔第三王朝时期。 ## 分类体系 本数据集内塑像的人形或兽形分类，以及兽形塑像所代表的动物种类鉴定，均遵循原始出版物中的鉴定标准。尽管这些分类体系较为笼统，但仍存在一定局限。若完整出土的兽形塑像背部附有附属于其上的人形塑像，则此类塑像不属于本分类体系范畴；若塑像破损，则极易被误归类为兽形或人形塑像。在本数据集中，若能识别出人形痕迹，则将其归入人形塑像类别，否则仍保留在兽形组中。因保存状态不佳而无法鉴定到物种级别的四足动物塑像，以及原始出版物中描述的兼具两种动物特征（例如绵羊与山羊）的难以鉴定的塑像，均无法被归入本分类体系。在本数据集中，此类塑像被归入"未鉴定四足动物"类别。 人形塑像与兽形塑像类别的鉴定，要么遵循原始出版物中的分类标准，要么基于已发表的塑像插图。收录人形与兽形塑像类别的电子表格不包含难以归类的塑像。 人形塑像被划分为四个类别：柱形（pillar-shaped）、立姿（standing）、圆柱形/锥形（cone/cylindrical-shaped）与坐姿（seated）。柱形塑像通常经过烧制，未刻画生殖器官与腿部特征。其上部通常带有丰富细节，而下部则几乎一律素面无装饰（Sakal 2018: 225–226）。立姿塑像拥有清晰可辨的腿部，通常置于小型扁平底座之上，且往往装饰华丽。一个独特的子类别为被风格化为小提琴形状的女性塑像（Sakal 2018: 227）。圆柱形与锥形塑像通常制作粗糙、表面未打磨，细节标记较少，要么未经过烧制，要么仅经低温烧制（Sakal 2018: 225）。坐姿塑像要么拥有低于座位高度的腿部，设计为可放置在单独塑形的物体上，要么与凳子融为一体，或在背部带有凸起结构以实现垂直摆放。 兽形塑像被划分为三大类别。第一类为实心（solid）塑像。第二类为带轮（wheeled）塑像，适配安装在带轮的车轴上，且多数情况下配有牵引绳。该类别包括造型为完整动物的实心与空心（hollow）塑像/容器，其躯干壁可能带有开口，或头部带有流口。空心（hollow）塑像类别中的标本不适配安装在车轴与车轮上，此类塑像主要为长笛与摇铃。 ## 参考文献 Finkbeiner, U. (2015). 地层学（Stratigraphy）. In U. Finkbeiner, M. Novák, F. Sakal, and P. Sconzo (eds), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean. Vol. 4, Middle Euphrates (pp. 17–40). Turnhout: Brepols Lebeau, M. (2018). 前言（Foreword）. In M. Lebeau (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean, Interregional. Vol. 2, Artefacts (pp. ix–x). Turnhout: Brepols Quenet, P. (2011). 地层学（Stratigraphy）. In M. Lebeau (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Vol. 1, Jezirah (pp. 19–47). Turnhout: Brepols Renette, S. (2019). 地层学（Stratigraphy）. In E. Rova (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and the Eastern Mediterranean. Vol. 5, Tigridian Region (pp. 21–44). Turnhout: Brepols Sakal, F. (2018). 人形陶土塑像（Anthropomorphic terracotta figurines）. In M. Lebeau (ed.), Associated Regional Chronologies for the Ancient Near East and Eastern Mediterranean, Interregional. Vol. 2, Artefacts (pp. 221–243). Turnhout: Brepols