{"product_id":"ancient-sumerian-cuneiform-pottery-tablet","title":"Ancient Sumerian Cuneiform Pottery Tablet – Mesopotamia, Old Babylonian Period, circa 2000–1600 BCE","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis ancient pottery tablet originates from Mesopotamia, within the cultural sphere of Sumer and Babylon, and dates to the Old Babylonian Period, circa 2000 to 1600 BCE. It bears the worn remains of cuneiform, one of the earliest known systems of writing, developed to record administrative, legal, and literary texts in the ancient Near East.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThough heavily weathered by time, the tablet preserves softened impressions of hand-incised cuneiform signs. The surface shows significant age-related wear and flaking, yet the object remains a powerful material witness to early literacy and record-keeping practices at the dawn of complex civilization. Tablets of this type once functioned as durable records for commerce, taxation, correspondence, or education, offering insight into the bureaucratic and intellectual life of ancient Mesopotamia.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe tablet is housed in a protective plastic display case for stabilization and presentation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDimensions\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eTablet: 1.4 in L × 1.4 in W (3.6 cm × 3.6 cm)\u003cbr\u003eDisplay case included\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProvenance\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eEast Coast collection; New York gallery, New York City, New York, USA.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eLoss to one corner, as shown. Poor condition with active surface flaking; the cuneiform text is now nearly indiscernible. Presented in a plastic display case.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ancient Mesopotamia","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53225792340335,"sku":null,"price":1500.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0984\/6967\/5375\/files\/s-l1600-93.png?v=1784499439","url":"https:\/\/www.lybrothersfineart.com\/products\/ancient-sumerian-cuneiform-pottery-tablet","provider":"L\/Y Brothers","version":"1.0","type":"link"}