Ennigaldi-Nanna: The World’s First Museum Curator Was a Woman

In 1925, when British archeologist Leonard Woolley and his team were excavating at Ur, in the modern-day Dhi Qar Governorate of Iraq, they discovered a curious collection of artefacts among the ruins of a Babylonian palace. What made this discovery especially noteworthy was the fact that these items hailed from diverse geographical regions and historical periods, yet they were neatly assembled together. A striking feature was the presence of labels accompanying many of these artifacts, giving details about the objects. These inscriptions were written in three languages, one of which was Sumerian. Woolley determined that these artifacts were, in fact, early examples of museum pieces, thoughtfully collected, preserved, and thoroughly documented. This site marked the inception of the world's first museum, and the remarkable woman who is believed to have been its curator is the Mesopotamian princess, Ennigaldi-Nanna.

The Ziggurat of Ur near which the world’s first museum was founded. Photo credit: Wasfi Akab/Flickr

Source: amusingplanet.com