| Uruk IV | tablets regularly sealed (one or more seals) | seal impressed prior to inscription | |
| Uruk III | tablets only occasionally sealed | seal impressed prior to inscription | |
| Early Dynastic I-II | no sealed tablets | | |
| Early Dynastic IIIa | no sealed tablets | | |
| Early Dynastic IIIb | no sealed tablets | | |
| Old Akkadian | tablets occasionally sealed | seal impressed following inscription | example of Old Akkadian sealed tablet |
| Lagash II | no sealed tablets | | |
| Ur III | tablets regularly sealed (mostly one seal) | seal impressed following inscription | |
| Early Old Babylonian | tablets regularly sealed (mostly one seal) | seal impressed following inscription | |
| Old Babylonian | tablets regularly sealed (one or more seals) | seal impressed following inscription | |
| Old Assyrian | tablets regularly sealed (one or more seals) | seal impressed following inscription | |
