In the sands of time, a single bare footprint etched into a sun-dried mud brick stands as a silent witness to a momentous event in the ancient city of Ur, located in present-day Iraq, circa 2000 BC.

Ur, during this epoch, flourished as a cultural, economic, and religious hub. Magnificent temples and palaces, lush green avenues, and a vibrant society painted a picture of opulence and sophistication. The inhabitants of Ur cultivated a unique cultural identity, rich in arts, knowledge, and commerce.

The bare foot pressed onto the pristine surface of the sun-baked mud brick transcends mere happenstance; it is a work of art in itself. Like a tangible tableau, it narrates the tale of a courageous individual—perhaps a denizen of Ur—stepping onto the warm, red earth.

Crafted with finesse and technique, the white clay of the mud brick, sourced from the renowned red soils of Ur, captures not only its visual allure but also imprints the traces of time and humanity.

The enigma lies in identifying the person behind the footprint and discerning why they chose that particular sun-dried brick. Could it be a group of artisans seeking creative expression, conveying their emotions and sentiments? Alternatively, it might be a spiritual devotee, meandering through sunlit days, leaving behind an indelible mark of unwavering faith.

The Penn Museum is one of my favorite places in Philadelphia. It is here that you can get a good look at the golden headdress of Queen Puabi in the Royal Tombs of Ur exhibit. If you like gold, this is the exhibit for you. The Sumerians had a thing for gold and and knew how to hammer it into a myriad of shapes. I think Beyoncé could have rocked Queen Puabi’s headdress.

I went to the museum in search of pottery inspiration and believe me, I got plenty. Here are some pictures from a prior trip. But what grabbed my attention this time was the Sickle Waster. I never knew that clay sickles even existed, much less that they were used in ancient agriculture. But they were. And they had to fire them in kilns. Which brings me to the sickle waster. Anyone who has spent time around a kiln has experienced a firing disaster, hopefully not too extreme or expensive. I wrote about one a few years ago. A “waster” is pottery that has fallen or collapsed and fused with other pottery. Here’s another one. Here are some more.

The Sickle Waster

A sickle that made it through the firing.

But this object sent chills down my back. It’s a footprint made in fresh clay, probably for brick, that dates from 2000 BCE. It’s one thing to marvel at antiquities in a museum. It’s another thing to feel a connection with the people who used those objects. I wonder if there will be anyone left to look at our detritus 4000 years from now?