On January 4, 1928, the Museum received a telegram from Leonard Woolley announcing his great find of the tomb of Queen Puabi, at that time translated as Queen Shubad. Not wanting to attract undue attention (because telegrams were transcribed by individuals), the message is written in Latin. The translation in pencil, below the Latin text, reads:
“I found the intact tomb, stone built and vaulted over with bricks of Queen Shubad adorned with a dress in which gems, flowers, crowns and animal figures are woven. Tomb magnificent with jewels and golden cups. Woolley.” Sir Leonard Wooley (January 4, 1928)
The Royal Tombs of Ur in Mesopotamia ( ca. 2650–2550 BC) contained a wealth of objects made from gold, silver, lapis lazuli, carnelian, and other semi-precious stones. Excavated by the Penn Museum and the British Museum, Ur is one of the most spectacular archaeological discoveries of the 20th century.