نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
The Proto-Elamite period at Susa (circa 3100–2900 BCE) marks a pivotal phase in the early development of the pre-state communities in southwest Iran. During this period, the Susa emerged as a major center, playing a crucial role in the region’s economic, political, and social activities. One of the defining features of Proto-Elamite society is the use of clay tablets, one of the earliest known writing systems of the ancient world. Although the tablets remain largely undeciphered, numerous texts have survived, offering a glimpse into the administrative and economic functions of the time. A substantial portion of these Proto-Elamite texts are economic records, many of which are believed to be related to the management of agricultural resources and activities. Agriculture and animal husbandry were the backbone of the Proto-Elamite economy, sustaining the population and providing the surplus necessary for trade, tribute, and the growth of complex centers like Susa. The organization of agricultural labor, the cultivation of crops, and the bookkeeping of stores filled with crops are recurring themes in the surviving tablets, making them invaluable sources for understanding the agricultural practices during the Proto-Elamite period at Susa. This article focuses on analyzing Proto-Elamite tablets from Susa that exist at Iran National Museum (MDP.26) and many of them specifically deal with agricultural topics. The authors will inspect sign M56 and attached signs to the topic of agriculture activities and then will examine the types of crops referenced in these texts, and the organizational structure of agricultural labor. Moreover, the article will explore how these tablets reflect the integration of agriculture within the broader economic and social framework of Proto-Elamite society, including the role of the pre-state in regulating and organizing agricultural production.
کلیدواژهها English