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Identification and Creation

Object Number
1983.98
Title
Cuneiform Tablet: Old Assyrian Account Text
Classification
Tablets
Work Type
tablet
Date
c.1900-1750 BCE
Period
Bronze Age, Middle
Culture
Assyrian
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/289653

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Clay
Technique
Impressed
Dimensions
4 x 4.2 x 1.6 cm (1 9/16 x 1 5/8 x 5/8 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Nanette Rodney Kelekian, New York, formerly in the possession of her father Charles Dikran Kelekian; gift to Fogg Art Museum, 1983.

State, Edition, Standard Reference Number

Standard Reference Number
CDLI P393097

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Nanette B. Rodney
Accession Year
1983
Object Number
1983.98
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
Permissions

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Descriptions

Description
Small square clay tablet with cuneiform writing. Both obverse and reverse surfaces and left edge are densely inscribed with ruled lines of text written in the Old Assyrian dialect of the Akkadian language. There are no seal impressions. The tablet probably comes from the trading colony (karum) by the mound of Kültepe (ancient Kanesh) near Kaiseri in Cappadocia (central Anatolia).

The surface of the tablet is soiled, but most of the writing remains legible. The text is a caravan account, detailing the import of a consignment of textiles from Ashur into Anatolia, including information on local taxation, losses etc.

Text reads:

(1-5) Out of 42 textiles (from) the house of Aššur-malik: 2 ½ textiles are the nishatum-tax; x+½ shekels of silver will be paid; x+5 textiles for pre-emption; (5-8) 1 textile is lost; 40 textiles /...\; 3 ½ textiles the karum-authority will take. (8-11) Out of 54 textiles, including those of his son, belonging to Adi-Ištar: (11-15) 2 ½ textiles are the nishatum-tax; 3 shekels of silver will be paid; 5 textiles for pre-emption; 4+x shekels (of) silver will be paid; (16-20) 1 textile is lost; there are 35 textiles in the upper storeroom; 1 ½ textiles the karum-authority will take; 5 Dan-Aššur will take. (21-22) The rest of the textiles: 30 textiles will be available for me.

IMAGE: Bottow row, second from right.

Publication History

  • Deena Ragavan, “Cuneiform Texts and Fragments in the Harvard Art Museum / Arthur M. Sackler Museum”, Cuneiform Digital Library Journal (2010), no. 6.2

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3620 University Study Gallery, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 08/31/2019 - 01/08/2020

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu