The collapse of the Urukean trade network did not result in a cessation of trade between Mesopotamia and its neighbors, but the focus of trade shift northwards from Uruk to the Iranian plateau and northern Mesopotamia. The cities of the Diyala occupied an important place on this northern trade route.¹Collon 1987, 20

A specific type of seal began to appear in these regions during the Jemdet Nasr period and continued in use through the first half of the Early Dynastic (ED I-II). Known as “Piedmont” seals, they are found at sites located in the foothills (“piedmont”) of Mesopotamia. The seals are tall and thin and generally made from soft stone such as limestone or steatite. Many of them were cut in a cursory fashion with a wheel resulting in linear, abstract designs. In contrast to Jemdet Nasr seals, which were often produced solely with the drill, the use of the drill is not greatly in evidence on these seals. Geometric patterns and interlocking rows of animals prevail on “piedmont” seals, many examples of which have been found in the Diyala region. Their designs sometimes appear to imitate patterns woven into cloth and are therefore also known as “brocade” seals. The following seals are organized according to the levels in which they were found at sites in the Diyala.