How did the carving styles of Sumerian statues from Mari differ from those made in southern Mesopotamia?

In the context of Mesopotamian sculpture, statues found at the ancient city of Mari adhered to the same conventional Sumerian sculptural formula as those from southern Mesopotamia, meaning there was no deviation in the fundamental representation of figures.1

The primary difference between the two groups lies in technical peculiarities in the carving process. While southern Sumerian statues were often characterized by specific stylistic phases—such as the geometric simplification seen in figures from Eshnunna or the later, more ambitious attempts at naturalism and portraiture—the Mari statues are distinguished by their own unique technical execution.1

Additionally, some later sculpture from the Mari palace during the Sumerian revival period is noted for lacking the authentic stamp of traditional Sumerian design and workmanship, despite being heavily influenced by the style of the earlier Gudea period in the south.2