Terrestrial cartography in ancient Mesopotamia
Over one hundred and seventy maps and plans are preserved from the ancient Near East, drawn on clay tablets or inscribed in stone, though a full study of all the available cartographic material from Mesopotamia has never before been undertaken. This thesis offers a critical analysis of these maps and plans, with particular focus on their graphic conventions, typology and function in Near Eastern society. The text on many of these maps is also undeciphered and a number of examples are translated here for the first time, including an unpublished map of an irrigation network in the SchĂžyen Collection. By examining all this material in a single study, it becomes clear that there was a coherent documentary genre in Mesopotamia which was cartographic in nature, and which served a variety of administrative and planning purposes. The Near Eastern cartographic corpus is also contextualised within the wider history of cartography, so that its place in the global development of graphic mapping can be better understood.
Wheat, Elizabeth Ruth Josie
CC Archaeology ; D051 Ancient History ; GA Mathematical geography. Cartography
Terrestrial cartography in ancient Mesopotamia. Over one hundred and seventy maps and plans are preserved from the ancient Near East, drawn on clay tablets or inscribed in stone, though a full study of all the available cartographic material from Mesopotamia has never before been undertaken. This thesis offers a critical analysis of these maps and plans, with particular focus on their graphic conventions, typology and function in Near Eastern society. The text on many of these maps is also undeciphered and a number of examples are translated here for the first time, including an unpublished map of an irrigation network in the SchĂžyen Collection. By examining all this material in a single study, it becomes clear that there was a coherent documentary genre in Mesopotamia which was cartographic in nature, and which served a variety of administrative and planning purposes. The Near Eastern cartographic corpus is also contextualised within the wider history of cartography, so that its place in the global development of graphic mapping can be better understood.
terrestrial cartography ancient_mesopotamia map plan preserve ancient_near_east drawn clay tablet inscribe stone though full study available cartographic material mesopotamia never undertaken offer_critical analysis map plan particular_focus graphic convention typology function near_eastern society text many map also number example translate first_time include_unpublished map irrigation network collection examine material single study become_clear coherent documentary genre mesopotamia cartographic nature serve variety administrative planning purpose near_eastern cartographic corpus also contextualised_within wider history cartography place global development graphic mapping well_understood