I was thinking about what Bob said about bird deities, and so I thought I'd post a few bird beads and see if anyone wanted to add to the birdline.

First of all, four little shell beads, early third millennium BC, from (I think) northern Mesopotamia, or thereabouts.

And second, a seal with an ibis or some such bird on one side and a roughly carved sunburst on the other, Bactria, late third or early second millennium BC.

Cheers,

Will