Cuneiform was one of the earliest forms of writing, developed in the ancient lands of Mesopotamia. Babylonian society was a complex social structure and had a need, as we do today, to record such things as temple acquisitions, land transactions, financial loans, as well as their epic stories and personal letters. When the clay was wet, a reed pen or stylus would incise the piece with etchings. The clay would then be fired or left in the sun to dry, making the text permanent. Earlier forms started as pictographs which evolved into abstract forms which included circular impressions representing numerical symbols. Cuneiform is instantly recognisable by the wedge-shaped marks, usually pressed into clay tablets. Indeed, the name ‘cuneiform’ literally means “wedge-shaped”.
Small Old Babylonian Clay Administrative Cuneiform Tablet
£ 225.00
A small, pillow-shaped clay tablet dating to the Old Babylonian period. Cuneiform scripts have been incised on the obverse and reverse however; some sections are now worn due to age. It is likely this tablet was recording administrative texts.
Please take note of the measurements.
Provenance: Ex collection of a deceased gentleman by descent to his family in London and Geneva, collection acquired 1970-1990.
Condition: Repaired with a vertical crack and residue visible across the body. Chip to one side.
SOLD
| Weight | 25.2 g |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | W 3.8 x H 3.2 cm |
| Culture | |
| Pottery and Porcelain | |
| Region |
