Ancient Mesopotamian | Cuneiform Clay Tablet | Administrative Record | Circa 2000–1500 BC
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Ancient Mesopotamian | Cuneiform Clay Tablet | Administrative Record | Circa 2000–1500 BC
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
Material: Fired clay / terracotta
Period: Middle Bronze Age, circa 2000–1500 BC
Description
This ancient clay tablet originates from the cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia, where writing first developed more than five thousand years ago. The tablet bears multiple lines of incised cuneiform script arranged within a grid-like layout, a format commonly used by scribes for administrative and accounting purposes.
Cuneiform writing was created by pressing a stylus—often made from reed—into soft clay to produce the distinctive wedge-shaped marks that give the script its name. Tablets such as this were used to document transactions, agricultural production, labor allocations, and temple or palace inventories. Once inscribed, the clay was dried or lightly fired, preserving the record for thousands of years.
The organized columns of signs likely represent quantities, commodities, or individuals involved in economic exchanges. Tablets like this provide direct insight into the bureaucratic and commercial systems that sustained some of the world’s earliest urban societies.
Features
- Authentic clay tablet bearing cuneiform script impressions
- Grid layout typical of administrative or accounting tablets
- Multiple symbol groups representing recorded entries or quantities
- Hand-incised wedge-shaped characters made with reed stylus
- Compact form typical of portable record tablets
Cultural Significance
Cuneiform is one of the earliest known systems of writing, first developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 3200 BC. Over time it was adopted by many cultures across the Near East, including the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Administrative tablets like this one formed the backbone of early record keeping, allowing governments, temples, and merchants to track economic activity across growing urban societies.
Condition
Archaeological condition with visible age-related wear, mineral deposits, and a stable vertical fissure consistent with ancient clay tablets. The cuneiform impressions remain clearly visible across both sides of the tablet.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Length: 3.25 in
Width: 2.25 in
Depth: 0.5 in
Age (Approximate)
3,500–4,000 years old
Learn More
Discover the origins of written record-keeping through cuneiform tablets in this feature by the National Museum of Ireland
Explore Our Collection of Ancient Writing Systems & Cuneiform Texts
Descripción
Historical Context & Origin
Region: Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq)
Material: Fired clay / terracotta
Period: Middle Bronze Age, circa 2000–1500 BC
Description
This ancient clay tablet originates from the cradle of civilization in Mesopotamia, where writing first developed more than five thousand years ago. The tablet bears multiple lines of incised cuneiform script arranged within a grid-like layout, a format commonly used by scribes for administrative and accounting purposes.
Cuneiform writing was created by pressing a stylus—often made from reed—into soft clay to produce the distinctive wedge-shaped marks that give the script its name. Tablets such as this were used to document transactions, agricultural production, labor allocations, and temple or palace inventories. Once inscribed, the clay was dried or lightly fired, preserving the record for thousands of years.
The organized columns of signs likely represent quantities, commodities, or individuals involved in economic exchanges. Tablets like this provide direct insight into the bureaucratic and commercial systems that sustained some of the world’s earliest urban societies.
Features
- Authentic clay tablet bearing cuneiform script impressions
- Grid layout typical of administrative or accounting tablets
- Multiple symbol groups representing recorded entries or quantities
- Hand-incised wedge-shaped characters made with reed stylus
- Compact form typical of portable record tablets
Cultural Significance
Cuneiform is one of the earliest known systems of writing, first developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 3200 BC. Over time it was adopted by many cultures across the Near East, including the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. Administrative tablets like this one formed the backbone of early record keeping, allowing governments, temples, and merchants to track economic activity across growing urban societies.
Condition
Archaeological condition with visible age-related wear, mineral deposits, and a stable vertical fissure consistent with ancient clay tablets. The cuneiform impressions remain clearly visible across both sides of the tablet.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Length: 3.25 in
Width: 2.25 in
Depth: 0.5 in
Age (Approximate)
3,500–4,000 years old
Learn More
Discover the origins of written record-keeping through cuneiform tablets in this feature by the National Museum of Ireland
Explore Our Collection of Ancient Writing Systems & Cuneiform Texts
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