Discovered during an irregular excavation in 1966 and published by W. Hinz in 1969, the so-called Silver Vessel of Marv Dasht, with its late Proto-Iranian/Linear Elamite inscription (Linear Elamite Inscription no. 17/Q), remained undeciphered until recently. While the vessel was likely produced in Central Asia in the late 3rd millennium BCE, its inscription can be attributed to 21st century BCE southwestern Iran. Thanks to the recent decipherment of the late Proto-Iranian/Linear Elamite script, this 4,000-year-old Hatamtite/Elamite text, among others, can now be read. A preliminary translation is provided here. The text involves two previously unknown characters and was commissioned by Šůwar-Asu (Šowar-Asu or Šuwar-Asu), who gifted this vessel to Hůmšat (Homšat or Humšat), the Lady of Marapša(y)i (maybe a goddess), and placed it in the temple of Hiš(-)mani-r, possibly near Anzan.
Desset,F . (2026). The Marv Dasht silver vessel and its meaning. (e734306). Journal of Iran National Museum, 4(1), e734306 doi: 10.22034/jinm.2024.2043337.1093
MLA
Desset,F . "The Marv Dasht silver vessel and its meaning" .e734306 , Journal of Iran National Museum, 4, 1, 2026, e734306. doi: 10.22034/jinm.2024.2043337.1093
HARVARD
Desset F. (2026). 'The Marv Dasht silver vessel and its meaning', Journal of Iran National Museum, 4(1), e734306. doi: 10.22034/jinm.2024.2043337.1093
CHICAGO
F Desset, "The Marv Dasht silver vessel and its meaning," Journal of Iran National Museum, 4 1 (2026): e734306, doi: 10.22034/jinm.2024.2043337.1093
VANCOUVER
Desset F. The Marv Dasht silver vessel and its meaning. Journal of Iran National Museum. 2026;4(1):e734306 (In Persian). doi: 10.22034/jinm.2024.2043337.1093
