Look Inside a 4,500-Year-Old Sculpture from Iraq

Uncover the story of a copper-alloy sculpture from ancient Mesopotamia as it is CT-scanned by a team of researchers. In this collaborative research project between The Met and the Republic of Iraq, new findings are discovered about the ancient art-making technique of hollow-core lost-wax casting, an innovative breakthrough that is still used by artists today.

Recent provenance research by the Museum’s scholars established that the work rightfully belongs to the Republic of Iraq, prompting the Museum to reach out to His Excellency Nazar Al Khirullah, Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States of America, and offer to return the work. During discussions that followed, The Met and Iraq agreed to embark on collaborative research on the sculpture, including sending it for high-powered scanning at a specialized lab in Germany. This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to advancing the understanding of human history and creativity. The work was returned to the Republic of Iraq in a ceremony at The Met on September 30, 2025.

Featured Object: Vessel Holder with Ibex Support, ca. 2600–2350 BCE. Sumerian.
Copper alloy, inlaid with shell (lambis truncata) and lapis lazuli

Senior Content Strategist: Joan Thompson
Chief Digital Content Officer: Douglas Hegley
Senior Manager of Media Production: Skyla Choi
Managing Producer and Editor: Ann C. Collins
Line Producer for Bilderfest GmbH: Laura Sages
Supervising Producer for Bilderfest GmbH: Niko Wirth
Director: Ann C. Collins
Editor: Lucas Groth
Cinematographers: Lucas Groth, Daniel Ritter, Luca Zanner, Richard Chisolm
Music by: Austin Fisher
Sound Recordist: Stefan Seulen
Production Coordinator: Hayley Theisen
Still Photographer: Nico Tavalai

Picture Finishing provided by
GOLDCREST POST NY

Colorist: Ken Sirulnick, CSI
Senior Finishing Artist: Larry Schmitt
DI Assist: Dan Dragicevich
Data I/O Manager: Michael Del Plato
DI Producer: Travis Avitabile
Head of Production: Wade Rudolph

Sound Finishing provided by
GOLDCREST POST NY

Re-recording Mixer: Ryan M. Price, CAS
Mix Assistant: Basia Elakraa, Alex Uriati
Sound Department Manager: Nicole Tessier

Special Thanks:
His Excellency Nazar Al Khirullah
Ambassador of the Republic of Iraq to the United States
Mr. Ali Fadhil Ali
Second Secretary - Legal Section, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the United States
Dr. Sadeq Ali Hasan
Second Secretary - Political Section, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the United States
Mr. Ammar A. Jarallah Al-Dabagh
Counselor / Chief of Protocol, Embassy of the Republic of Iraq to the United States

Fraunhofer Institute

Miriam Doll
Nils Reims
Michael Böhnel
Paul Lachenauer
Scott Geffert
Lisa Pilosi
Daira Eden Robert
Bryanna O'Mara
Caitlin Corrigan
Clare Davies
Chloe Lovelace
Mikaela Dilworth