Seals are often made of stone; however, there are also examples rendered in bone, ivory, faience, glass, metal, wood, and occasionally sun-dried or baked clay. In the ancient world, seals guaranteed the authenticity of marked ownership – as such, they were instrumental in legal transactions, and in the protection of goods against theft. Seal amulets with stylised animals or fantasised zoomorphic figural have been found throughout Mesopotamia in contexts dating to the late fourth millennium BC, although stamp seals and cylinder seals are predominant types in the ancient Near East. Horned or antlered animals, including stags, goats and ibexes, are staples in the artistic repertoire as representations of protection or power.
For more about stamp seals, see our relevant blog post: Making their Mark: A Concise Guide to Western Asiatic Stamp Seals