gems, glyptic, engraved gems, cylinder seal, engraving technique, replication, scanning electron microscopy, stone wheel-cutting, ancient gems, lapidary, ancient lapidary

Scanning electron microscopy provides an insight into the lapidary techniques of the ancient Near East. Engraved features on quartz cylinder seals have been compared to those produced experimentally, leading to a radical reassessment of the date for the introduction of the engraving wheel.