Clay, impressed, stamped
624-615 BCE
Iraq
The British Museum
Details
Culture/Civilisation
Ancient Mesopotamia
Theme
Writing
Subtheme
Token to Epic
Display Location
Coomaraswamy Hall
Findspot
Kouyunjik, Iraq
Measurements
10 x 5.5 x 2.3 cm
Accession Number
K.311
Description
A list, a contract and a literary text
In Mesopotamia, wedge-shaped characters were scratched on soft clay with a pointed reed – the cuneiform script. The clay was then sun-dried or baked – a quick way of creating lasting records. Across West Asia, cuneiform was used for over 3,000 years to write many languages on clay, stone and papyrus. Writing often records stories that had been recited orally for centuries.
The tablet captures a complex property deal. It includes a list of 23 witnesses, and has three impressions of the owner’s stamp seal.
