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Grades K–2 · History & Evidence

How can a little stone roll out a long picture?

Long ago, people used small carved stones to leave marks in clay. One kind was shaped like a short roll. Its picture went around the curved side, not just on one flat end.

H32 visual explanationThe little stone has a picture cut into its side. It rolls over soft clay and leaves a picture with lines that stand up. The sun and wave are made-up pictures, not marks from a real old stone. A hard surface does not take the same clay mark.A rolling stone leaves a pictureA very large view of a little sealCarved stoneLines go into stoneSoft clayRolls this wayClay lines stand upThe stone moves on; the clay keeps the mark.

In the diagramA rolling stone leaves a pictureA very large view of a little sealCarved stoneLines go into stoneSoft clayRolls this wayClay lines stand upThe stone moves on; the clay keeps the mark.

The carved stone rolls to the right across soft clay. Its sun-and-wave design is invented; the raised clay picture spreads out behind it.

As the stone rolled over soft clay, each part of its side pressed down. Clay pushed into the carved lines. Behind the stone, a long picture appeared with lines standing up.

People could use these marks to show ownership or identify a person. The clay kept the mark after the stone rolled away. One small stone could leave its picture again elsewhere.

About this explanation

Starting knowledge: Recognizes rolling and a soft surface that can keep a mark.

Sources

  • The Metropolitan Museum of Art — Cylinder seal: Kassite
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