Why are cylinder seals useful for dating Mesopotamian archaeological sites?

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The Great Ziggurat of Ur in Iraq, a massive ancient brick structure with broad staircases and terraced levels, stands alone in a barren landscape. — Mesopotamian art and architecture Ziggurat at Ur (modern Tall al-Muqayyar, Iraq), constructed c. 2100 bce.

Cylinder seals are considered among the most valuable chronological indicators for archaeologists because of the continuous changes in the style of their designs over time.1

As characteristic artifacts of ancient Mesopotamian civilization, these small stone cylinders were engraved in intaglio to leave impressions when rolled onto wet clay. Because these seals were widely used to mark personal property and authenticate documents, they were produced in large numbers throughout the region's history. The evolution of the motifs depicted on these seals—ranging from early geometric and animal patterns to later complex ritual scenes and divine figures—allows researchers to track stylistic shifts and date the archaeological contexts in which they are discovered.213