Perhaps the richest group of artefacts of ancient Mesopotamian material culture are the cylinder seals made of various stones are of the highest technological standard in terms of their workmanship and bear a variety of depictions of different scenes. These seals were used mainly to authenticate documents (pertaining to administrative and economic activities) or to seal containers for storage and transport or rooms. They were also used to indicate rank or position or to carry out orders or assignments, and were worn as amulets and jewellery by their owners and often used as grave goods and funerary accessories. Cylinder seals were therefore employed for a range of functions, across different social strata.