Although agriculture was the chief industry of Sumer, commerce with distant lands also flourished. The Mesopotamian plain was lacking in resources such as metals, timber, stone, and grapevines, so the Sumerians had to trade abroad to get them. Initially, the Sumerians traded surplus barley for these goods. This soon became too expensive and difficult because the sacks of barley were large and heavy. As a result, the Sumerians began to manufacture trading goods that they could transport more easily, such as cloth and bronze ornaments.

Bull's head from a Sumerian tomb. The Sumerians, who drew human faces so simply, even crudely, were experts at depicting animals.

Photo from Sumerian Shakespeare - https://sumerianshakespeare.com/117701/118201.html