Archaeology Akkadian Tablet "Beer Receipt" — Riker Box Replica

Ancient Akkadian Beer Receipt Tablet

This detailed replica reproduces an ancient Akkadian cuneiform tablet documenting the delivery of beer and related provisions, offering a rare glimpse into everyday administrative life in Mesopotamia more than 3,300 years ago. Rather than a royal inscription or religious text, this tablet records a practical transaction tied directly to food production, labor, and seasonal supply.

The original tablet dates to the Kassite Period, mid-13th century B.C., and was excavated at the ancient city of Nippur (modern-day Iraq) in the late 19th century. Nippur served as a significant religious and administrative center, where written records were essential for managing agricultural output and distribution.

What the Cuneiform Records

The front of the tablet lists quantities and quality grades of beer and related foodstuffs, reflecting the structured nature of Mesopotamian provisioning systems:

• 40½ vessels of first-quality beer
• 85 vessels of second-quality beer
• 2 vessels of a high-quality beverage, likely a specialty brew
• 7 liters of "beer bread", issued to the son of Kubu-eresh

The reverse of the tablet provides a precise administrative date, reinforcing its role as a formal receipt:

• Recorded in the month of Ululu
• On the 29th day
• During the 25th regnal year of an unnamed king

Seasonal Context: Ululu and the Harvest Cycle

Ululu was the sixth month of the Mesopotamian lunisolar calendar, corresponding approximately to late August through September in the modern calendar. This period followed the grain harvest, when barley had already been gathered and processed into staple foods such as bread and beer.

Administrative tablets dated to Ululu frequently reflect increased accounting activity, as surplus grain and brewed beer were redistributed to workers, temple dependents, and households. The large quantities recorded on this tablet align closely with this seasonal rhythm, illustrating how beer functioned as both a dietary staple and a standardized form of compensation.

Educational and Historical Significance

In ancient Mesopotamia, beer was consumed daily and played a central role in nutrition, labor payment, and social organization. Tablets like this one demonstrate how early civilizations relied on written language to regulate food supply, track obligations, and manage complex economic systems with remarkable precision.

This is a reproduction cast from the original, at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (tablet collection).

Dimensions & Display

• Length: 5 ½ inches
• Width: 4 ½ inches
• Depth: ⅞ inch

Well-suited for shelf, desk, or classroom display, this replica pairs naturally with collections focused on ancient writing, early economies, and the development of recorded history.  INFORMATION INCLUDED! Stand included!

Add a Tangible Piece of Ancient History

This Akkadian beer receipt replica captures a moment when harvest, administration, and daily life converged through the written word. It is an instructive and visually engaging artifact that brings the rhythms of the ancient agricultural year into clear focus.