Cylinder seal and modern impression: hunting scene ca. 2250-2150 B.C. Akkadian In ancient Mesopotamia, a cylinder-shaped seal could be rolled on a variety of objects made of clay. When seals were impressed on tablets or tablet cases the seal impressions served to identify the authority responsible for what was written in the documents, much as a signature does today. When seals were impressed on sealings lumps of clay that were used to secure doors and the lids of storage jars the seal impressions served to identify their owner and protect against unauthorized opening. Many cylinder seals have survived because they were made of durable materials, particularly stone, but also metal and fired clay. Perforated through the middle like a bead, seals were also believed to have apotropaic, or protective, functions and were worn as jewelry or pinned on garments.The modern impression of a seal is shown here so that the entire design can be seen. The scene is composed of two basic groupings t