Babylonian Cuneiform Foundation Cone

Cuneiform cones, or nails, were inscribed with cuneiform and buried under the foundations, or built into the walls, of important public buildings and temples during construction to sanctify the site and to create a historical memory of the ruler and his achievements. Hidden from view, these inscribed objects were meant to be found during later restorations, an important consideration in a land of floods and wars, when such builings were constructed of simple baked clay.