The design consists of an undulating notched band between two lines and in each of the two areas so created is put a big bird with head sideways at the top, wings spread beneath, and tail feathers spread at the bottom. To fill the spaces the birds are laced tête bêche.
This is an unusually large and fine specimen of a type of seal known, but so far little known. Three much smaller ones were excavated at Ur, But without providing sure dating. But they can be placed with some assurance in the period at the end of the Akkad dynasty, and before the rise of the Third Dynasty of Ur, c. 2200-2100 B.C. The stone of this one is worn, but the design has survived very well due to the skill of the ancient engraver. It should be called Sumerian art.