Cockles and Carps: Human-Aquatic Being Relations in the Mid to Late Third Millennium BCE Tombs of Ur

This chapter explores the intricate dynamics between human and aquatic beings within the third millennium BCE tombs of ancient Ur, through comprehensively examining fauna, fishing tools and visual representations from the tombs. Despite recent advancements in Human-Animal Studies, interactions involving aquatic species remain relatively understudied. Fish and molluscs, though underrepresented in physical remains, played diverse roles in funerary practices, embodying an ideology of abundance. Molluscs, primarily obtained through extensive trade, underwent substantial transformations, often rendering their origins unrecognisable. Bivalve shells, intertwined with pigments, emerge as pivotal elements in complex networks of personal identity, mortality, and posthumous transformation. Conversely, artefacts like cylinder seals and various forms of jewellery bear the imprint of meticulous craftsmanship, resulting in finished products that often bear scant resemblance to their antecedents. This chapter contributes to a deeper understanding of the dynamic interactions between human and aquatic beings in ancient Mesopotamia, shedding light on cosmologies and religious practices of this area.