Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur brings to the Saint Louis Art Museum the discoveries of one of the greatest archaeological finds of all time. This exhibition of rare Sumerian works of art dating back nearly five thousand years includes intricate and breathtakingly beautiful jewelry, mosaics and ceremonial objects. Made of lapis lazuli, gold, silver, ivory and carnelian, they are some of the earliest masterpieces of decorative arts from the beginnings of Western civilization.

When the British Museum and the University of Pennsylvania decided to excavate at Ur in the 1920s, Leonard Woolley, a relatively unknown British archaeologist, was chosen to lead the venture. The resulting 16-year excavation revealed a rich and diverse collection of Mesopotamian antiquities. Nothing like them had ever been found before, or since. Howard Carter's discovery of the tomb of the Egyptian king Tutankhamen is their only rival, and the two discoveries were nearly simultaneous. In these royal tombs, Woolley discovered, for the first time, the remains of elaborate funeral and burial ceremonies of the Kings and Queens of Ur. His findings led to important historical revelations and to this awe-inspiring exhibition.

Treasures from the Royal Tombs of Ur was organized by the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology in Philadelphia. At the Saint Louis Art Museum, the exhibition is curated by Sidney Goldstein, curator of ancient and Islamic art.

Admission: $6 for adults $5 for students and seniors $4 for children 6 to 12 Free for Members and children younger than 6 Free to all on Fridays Audio tour included with each paid admission

Audio tour preview