Ancient Near East, Third Dynasty of Ur, ca. 2100 to 2000 BCE. A translated "biscuit", a cuneiform tablet with a rounded, pillow-like body made from fired clay. Narrow horizontal bands of the early form of writing cover both sides densely. Cuneiform script is one of the oldest known writing systems in the world, made using a reed as a stylus and scratching wedge-shaped marks onto clay tablets. Early cuneiform was pictographic, but in the 3rd millennium BCE it shifted to the more abstract form you see here. Comes with custom stand. Size: 1.5" W x 1.8" H (3.8 cm x 4.6 cm); height on stand: 3.65" (9.3 cm)

This account lists quantities of several types of flour and other foods "for the throne" and for "the cook house". Cuneiform tablets seem to have been used mainly as a way of tabulating economic concerns. Although it might be more romantic to imagine that these tablets discussed the doings of kings and gods, from a historical standpoint, it is much more interesting to learn about the daily transactions of humanity's first great urban centers. This example has been translated and comes with a copy of the translation.

Provenance: private Texas, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#123548

Piece is intact and appears readable.