Ca. 2500-1800 BC. A square seal in white steatite; Indus valley signs in a formal script to the upper edge, bovine animal standing left facing an altar, with double loop handle. Steatite seals with engraved designs were widely used in the ancient Near East for a variety of purposes. They were often used to mark ownership or as a means of authenticating documents and other important items. They could also serve as protective amulets or talismans, providing their owners with a sense of security and connection to the spiritual world. For a similar, see The Ashmolean Museum, Accession no.EA2009.6.Size: L:26.6mm / W:26.1mm ; 8.81gProvenance: From the collection of a London gentleman; formerly acquired in early 2000s in Belgium; previously in 1970s European collection.