This Old Syrian seal (1800-1700 B.C.)is in excellent condition - how can we know it's authentic ?
1. It's very small (1.5 cm), stones like hematite were rare in antiquity, therefore most authentic seals are small.
2. The seal belongs to the so called First Syrian Group. Note the parallels in Frankfort and Moortgat.
3. The majority of the seals in this group are made of hematite, just as my example here.
4. last but not least: Authenticity was confirmed by Prof. Lambert and Dr. Winkelmann.

Many seals of the First Syrian Group depict Egyptian symbols (Ankh), figures or even hieroglyphs. Note the marching warriors on the impression. They wear Epyptian style kilts and hair. Below see parallels in Frankfort (left) and Moortgat (right)

These bronze stamp seals were found in Afghanistan. They belong to the so called BMAC-culture (Bactria Margiana Archaeological Complex), late 3rd millenium B.C. or early 2nd millenium B.C. The bases depict simple ornamental patterns. The example on the right side of the picture has a diameter of 2.3 cm.

This amygdaloid seal (banded agate 2.6 cm) depicts a lion. The reverse side depicts a cuneiform inscription. Amygdaloid seals are rarely found in the Near East. In contrast most of the Minoan or Mycenean seals of the 2nd Millenium B.C. are amygdaloid or lentoid. It's hard to tell whether this seal was made on Crete or in a Minoan workshop in the Near East. The cuneiform possibly refers to goddess Kubaba (d. KU(?)-Ba-Pa) and leads to Syria. See picture with parallel seals in the Corpus of Minoan and Mycenean seals.