Music must have been an important part of life and death for Ur's ancient inhabitants. Eleven stringed instruments were found in the Royal Cemetery. This lyre was one of the largest found in the cemetery, and its head is from the largest animal -- a bearded bull. The majority of the instrument is restored to match the representation of a lyre on the inlaid panel on the front. That panel and the bull's head were the only intact pieces remaining as the wood had long ago rotted away! This head was made of gold and lapis lazuli. Even though many objects of gold were buried in the Royal Tombs, it was a rare and expensive material and as little of it as possible was used. The whites of the bull's eyes are made of shell, the irises of lapis lazuli and its beard is made of lapis lazuli set into a silver backing.