Uruk, located in ancient Mesopotamia, flourished in the fourth millennium B.C.E. and was the first city in human history. A. A variety of evidence indicates that Uruk, while it supported itself primarily by agriculture, also had specialized craft workers. B. The monumental sculptures of Uruk were made by the specialist stone cutters who also produced small-scale relief scenes on shell, bone and faience. C. The large number, standardized sizes, and simple molded construction of a type of pottery produced in Uruk demonstrate specialized, centrally organized mass production. D. Cylinder seals from the late Uruk period are far superior to the stamp earlier Neolithic period. E. Archaeological evidence from across the Near East indicates that Uruk was a center for the production and export of highly decorated pottery made by craft specialists in private homes. F. The carved designs on cylinder seals produced in Uruk are of such technical and artistic excellence that they could only have been produced by professional artisans.