Testi e impronte di sigillo provenienti dal livello II del kārum Kaniš: uno studio comparato

The research project has analyzed the seal impressions from karum Kanis (ancient Kültepe) level II combining their iconographic study with the textual data of tablet-envelopes on which the seal impressions appear. The thesis consists of two parts. The first part provides an introduction to the material and the concept of archive at Kültepe followed by the exposition of the status quaestionis, the analysis of publication criteria and the illustration of the methodology adopted during the research. The second part analyzes the sealing practice, with particular attention to its anomalies such as cases of reusing, borrowing and sharing of seals. The results have be applied to social analysis particularly focusing on hereditary transfers of seals, seals used by women and local Anatolian interpretations of the sealing practice.