3,500-Year-Old Cuneiform Tablet Found Containing a Shopping List in Turkey
Archaeologists excavating the Aççana Mound, also known as Eski Alalah, have made an amazing discovery: a cuneiform tablet detailing a shopping list of purchases from almost 3,500 years ago. The tablet, dating back to the 15th century BC, is inscribed with cuneiform text written in Akkadian, an extinct East Semitic language once spoken in ancient Mesopotamia.
The Aççana Mound is a tell, or a type of archaeological mound that has accumulated over centuries of continuous occupation, located in the Reyhanlı district of the southern Turkish province of Hatay.
Cuneiform Script: Scribes Across Mesopotamia
In a recent press statement, Mehmet Ersoy, the Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, announced that archaeologists unearthed the cuneiform tablet during restoration works in the ancient city of Alalah following a recent earthquake. Cuneiform is a logo-syllabic writing system noted for its wedge-shaped impressions, which form various signs.
According to the press statement, Minister Ersoy said in a post on his social media accounts:
“We believe that this tablet, weighing 28 grams, will provide a new perspective in terms of understanding the economic structure and state system of the Late Bronze Age.”
The cuneiform tablet in situ at Aççana Mound, Hatay Province, Turkey. (Turkey’s Culture & Tourism Ministry)
The Akkadians, in a practical move, wrote their language phonetically, utilizing corresponding Sumerian phonetic signs. This system allowed for a relatively standardized method of recording information, which could be understood by scribes across different regions of Mesopotamia. It is one of the earliest writing systems developed in ancient Mesopotamia. Originating around 2500 BC, it evolved from the Sumerian cuneiform script, which itself was developed by the Sumerians around 3400 BC.
An expert delicately cleaning the clay cuneiform tablet. (Turkey’s Culture & Tourism Ministry)
An Everyday Item, Providing Important Insights
This particular tablet serves as an administrative record detailing the purchase of a substantial amount of furniture. It provides new insights into the economic structure and state system of the Late Bronze Age.
The tablet, which weighs 28 grams, measures 4.2 cm by 3.5 cm and has a thickness of 1.6 cm. These dimensions indicate that it was likely a portable record, possibly used by a merchant or an official responsible for tracking goods and transactions.
Minister Mehmet Ersoy, also said:
“We believe that this tablet, weighing 28 grams, will provide a new perspective in our understanding of the rich heritage of Anatolia for future generations.”
The cuneiform script is characterized by its wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets using a blunt reed stylus. The name "cuneiform" itself comes from the Latin "cuneus," meaning "wedge." The script includes a combination of logograms (symbols representing words), syllabograms (symbols representing syllables), and determinatives (signs that clarify the meaning of other signs). This versatility allowed the Akkadians to represent a wide range of sounds and concepts, making it a highly effective writing system for administrative, legal, literary, and scholarly purposes.
Linguists have now deciphered the tablet. (Turkey’s Culture & Tourism Ministry)
Trade Networks and Economic Practices: Bronze Age Euphemisms
An ongoing study by linguists has deciphered that the tablet lists the purchase of large quantities of wooden tables, chairs, and stools. Additionally, it includes details about the individuals who made the purchases and the vendors who sold the furniture. This information sheds light on the trade networks and economic practices of the time, revealing a well-organized system of commerce and administration, reports The Heritage Daily.
The Aççana Mound has been a rich archaeological site, providing numerous artifacts that help piece together the daily lives, economic activities, and administrative practices of ancient civilizations in the region.
The discovery of this tablet is particularly significant as it highlights the advanced state of commerce and also the complexity of social and economic interactions in ancient Mesopotamian societies, reports Railly News.
Economically, the Late Bronze Age in Sumeria was marked by robust trade networks that extended throughout Mesopotamia and beyond. The economy was primarily agrarian, relying on the fertile lands of the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys for the cultivation of crops such as barley, wheat, and dates.
Irrigation systems were crucial for sustaining agriculture, and their maintenance was a key aspect of local administration. In addition to agriculture, trade in goods such as textiles, pottery, and metalwork flourished. Sumerian merchants traded with regions as far as Anatolia, the Levant, and the Indus Valley, facilitating cultural and technological exchanges.
The unearthing of this cuneiform tablet at the Aççana Mound underscores the historical importance of Alalah and provides a valuable resource for researchers studying the ancient Near East.
Top image: 3,500-year-old cuneiform tablet found at Accana Mound, Hatay, Turkey. Source: Turkey’s Culture & Tourism Ministry
By Sahir Pandey
References
Milligan, M. 2024. 3,500-year-old shopping list found on cuneiform tablet. Available at: https://www.heritagedaily.com/2024/07/3500-year-old-shopping-list-found-on-cuneiform-tablet/152685.
RNS. 2024. Thousands of Years Old Tablet Uncovered in Hatay. Available at: https://www.raillynews.com/2024/07/Thousands-of-years-old-tablet-came-to-light-in-Hatay/.
