River Travel. The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and the canals that connected them did more than just nourish the crops in the fields. They also provided an efficient means of transportation for individuals, military troops, and cargo, as well as for kings and statues of gods in religious ceremonies. Because the prevailing winds blow in the same direction as the river currents, sailboats were not widely used on the rivers and canals of Mesopotamia. Moving upstream could be accomplished only by paddling, rowing, punting, or towing the vessel. Such a journey might take four times as long as the comparable trip downstream. In some cases, it was actually preferable to transport goods via donkey caravan rather than by water.

An Early Model Boat. A terra-cotta model of a boat, approximately 26 centimeters (10 inches) long, was found in a burial at the site...