1. Pottery:
- Sumerians were among the first to develop pottery using a potter's wheel, creating various vessels for storage, cooking, and art.
2. Metallurgy:
- They mastered metallurgy, smelting copper and tin to create bronze, leading to the production of tools, weapons, and jewelry.
3. Weaving:
- Sumerians developed techniques for weaving textiles from wool and linen. They used looms and created intricate designs for clothing and furnishings.
4. Jewelry-making:
- Sumerians crafted exquisite jewelry using gold, silver, semi-precious stones, and shells. They produced necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and headdresses.
5. Stone carving:
- Skilled Sumerian craftsmen carved beautiful sculptures, reliefs, and cylinder seals out of stone, especially alabaster and limestone.
6. Lapidary:
- They excelled in cutting, polishing, and engraving gemstones, creating intricate designs and amulets.
7. Leatherwork:
- Sumerians crafted various items from leather, such as sandals, bags, and garments, using techniques like tanning and embossing.
8. Glassmaking:
- Although not widely developed, the Sumerians experimented with glassmaking and produced simple glass objects.
9. Shipbuilding:
- They built boats using bundles of reeds or wood, enabling trade and transportation across rivers and seas.
10. Music:
- Sumerians invented several musical instruments, including stringed instruments, harps, flutes, drums, and rattles.