Proto-Elamite Culture in Light of the Newly Analysed Proto-Elamite Tablet from the State Hermitage Museum

The period, approximately between ۳۳۰۰ and ۲۷۰۰ BCE in Iran, is known as the Proto-Elamite Period, andthe culture associated with this timeframe is referred to as the Proto-Elamite Culture. Centred in southwesternIran, this culture has been identified at several archaeological sites, most notably Susa and Anshan. Excavationsat Susa, which began in the mid-۱۹th century, and those at Anshan, initiated in the mid-۲۰th century, have yieldedsignificant findings related to the Proto-Elamite Culture. Among the most important discoveries are the Proto-Elamite clay tablets, which provide insights into the socioeconomic structure of the Period. These tablets werewritten in the Proto-Elamite script, recognised as the first writing system developed in Iran. They contain recordspertaining to agriculture and animal husbandry, calculated using various accounting methods. This study examinesan unpublished Proto-Elamite tablet housed in the State Hermitage Museum. It offers detailed observations andinterpretations of the inscriptions and signs on the tablet. Furthermore, it compares the tablet with other Proto-Elamite tablets, noting similarities and differences. The tablet in question records information about small livestockherds, specifically goats and sheep. As it contains details related to animal husbandry, its content aligns with thatfound in other Proto-Elamite tablets. This study aims to advance research on the Proto-Elamite period by providinga decipherment of the Proto-Elamite tablet preserved in the State Hermitage Museum. İt utilises archaeologicalexcavation reports and various modern scholarly works to enhance our understanding of this significant culturalperiod.

کلیدواژه ها:

Proto-Elamite Period ، Proto-Elamite Culture ، Proto-Elamite Tablet ، Susa ، Anshan