Archaeologists unearth ancient shopping receipt dating back thousands of years

Cuneiform tablet from 15th century details a large purchase of furniture

Archaeologists came across a remarkable find while completing earthquake restoration work — a 15th-century BC Akkadian cuneiform tablet.

The tablet is inscribed with an administrative record, or receipt, sharing a large amount of furniture shopping.

The discovery was made in Aççana Höyük, known as Eski Alalah, in Turkey.

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A cuneiform is a proper way of writing distinct from the alphabet, according to London's British Museum.

Turkish archaeologists find old shopping receipt from 15th century

The relic measures 4.2 to 3.5 cm and is 1.6 cm. in thickness, according to a press release by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey)

"It doesn't have 'letters' – instead it uses between 600 and 1,000 characters impressed on clay to spell words by dividing them up into syllables," the museum's website says. 

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The relic measures 4.2 to 3.5 centimeters and is 1.6 centimeters in thickness, according to a press release from the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.

tablet turkey

The clay-inscribed tablet found in Turkey is said to show a record of the purchase of large amounts of wooden tables, chairs and stools. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey)

The clay-inscribed tablet is said to show a record of the purchase of large amounts of wooden tables, chairs and stools.

Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, minister of culture and tourism of the Republic of Turkey, posted about the finding on X.

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"We believe that this tablet, weighing 28 grams, will offer a new perspective to understand the economic structure and state system of the Late Bronze Age," said the post.

tablet turkey

Archaeologists have found a relic that appears to be similar to a shopping receipt. Linguists in Turkey will continue their work to figure out how many items were purchased, who bought the furniture or to whom they were given. (Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey)

Ersoy said linguists will continue their work to figure out how many pieces of furniture were purchased, who bought the items and more.

Fox News Digital reached out to Turkey's Ministry of Culture for comment.

Authored by Ashley Dimella via FoxNews August 12th 2024