Weld-Blundell Prism

The prism is inscribed with the Sumerian King List, a chronological record detailing the monarchs who ruled ancient Mesopotamia. It lists the kings, the lengths of their reigns, and the cities they governed, including supposedly mythical figures with lifespans spanning tens of thousands of years. It is an invaluable resource for historians studying early Sumerian history.

The artifact is currently housed in the Ashmolean Museum at the University of Oxford. It was donated to the museum by Herbert Weld Blundell during his archaeological expeditions in the early 20th century. Visitors to the Oxford museum can view this remarkably preserved clay prism on display.

The clay prism was crafted around 1800 BC during the Isin-Larsa period in ancient Sumeria. This makes the artifact nearly 4,000 years old. It was created long before the rise of the Persian or Roman empires, placing it firmly in the cradle of human civilization.

The list blends historical facts with mythology, listing early kings with impossibly long reigns before a great flood. After the flood, the recorded reigns become much shorter and more historically plausible. This mix of myth and history makes it difficult for modern archaeologists to separate factual chronology from ancient political propaganda.