The Making of a Scribe: Errors, Mistakes and Rounding Numbers in the Old Babylonian Kingdom of Larsa (Why the Sciences of the Ancient World Matter (4), Band 4)

Acknowledgements
Contents
Abbreviations
Glosses for Assyriology
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
	Abstract
	1.1 The Book Structure and Technical Notes
	1.2 An Overview of the Kingdom of Larsa, Past and Present
		1.2.1 The Trouble with Chronology
		1.2.2 The City of Larsa, Its Environs and Modern Archaeology
	1.3 Current Trends in Assyriology
		1.3.1 Archival Studies
		1.3.2 Unity Out of Variety
		1.3.3 Archives and the Parameters of Study
	1.4 Mistakes and Errors—Preliminary Remarks
2 The Early Scribal Education
	Abstract
	2.1 Systems of Quantification
		2.1.1 Measurement Systems
		2.1.2 Bridges and Other Connections Between Metrological Systems
		2.1.3 Numerical Systems
	2.2 Elementary Education in the Old Babylonian Period
		2.2.1 Tablet Types
		2.2.2 Metrological Lists and Tables in the Scribal Curriculum
		2.2.3 Numerical Tables and Elementary Education
	2.3 Conclusions
3 Text Types and Archival Practices in the Kingdom of Larsa
	Abstract
	3.1 Text Layout and Structure
		3.1.1 Tabular and Prosaic Layout
		3.1.2 Single Transactions
		3.1.3 Lists
		3.1.4 Balanced Accounts
	3.2 Conclusions
4 Archives, Bureaus and Management Systems in the Kingdom of Larsa
	Abstract
	4.1 The Grain Storage Bureau
	4.2 The Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	4.3 Grain Harvest Archive
	4.4 Grain Production Archive(s)
	4.5 Conclusions
5 Metrology and Sexagesimal Place Value Notation in Economic Texts
	Abstract
	5.1 The Transparency of Economic Texts
	5.2 Possible Sexagesimal Place Value Notation Basis for Calculations
	5.3 Explicit Statements of Sexagesimal Place Value Notation
	5.4 Conclusions
6 Errors, Mistakes and Evidence for a Counting Device
	Abstract
	6.1 The Nature of Discrepancies
	6.2 An Abacus?
		6.2.1 Carrying in Other Texts
		6.2.2 Evidence for Addition in Mathematical Texts
		6.2.3 Abacus and Administrative Practice
	6.3 Conclusions
7 Observation and the Limits of Numeracy
	Abstract
	7.1 Breakdown of Trust and the Practice of Oversight
		7.1.1 The Uniformity of Measurements and Measurement Values
		7.1.2 Standard Variation
		7.1.3 Changing Standards and Value Assessments
	7.2 Measurement Inconsistency and Grain Transit
	7.3 Production and Conception of Value
		7.3.1 Below the Lower Limit: The Expert
		7.3.2 Below the Lower Limit: The Novice
	7.4 On Measurement Theory and Practice
	7.5 Conclusions
8 Multiplication and Estimation
	Abstract
	8.1 Revenue Rates
	8.2 Equivalencies
		8.2.1 Do Equivalencies Reflect a Calculation?
		8.2.2 Equivalencies in the Mathematical Tradition
		8.2.3 Equivalencies and Discrepancies
	8.3 Estimation, Observation and Labor
		8.3.1 Volume, Labor and Wages in Economic Texts
		8.3.2 Volume, Labor and Wages in the Mathematical Tradition
		8.3.3 Sexagesimal Place Value Notation, Volume and Labor
		8.3.4 Sexagesimal Place Value Notation, Volume and Scribal Practice
		8.3.5 Volume as an Observation of Labor
		8.3.6 Labor as a Statement of Wages
	8.4 Tabular Layout and Economization of Practice
	8.5 Conclusions
9 Rounding in Mathematical and Economic Texts
	Abstract
	9.1 Truncation of Measured and Calculated Values in Administrative Texts
	9.2 Other Examples of Rounding Down in the Economic Texts
	9.3 Rounding up in the Economic Texts
	9.4 Rounding and Multiplication
	9.5 Rate Approximations and the Uncertainty of Interpretation
	9.6 Conclusions
10 Conclusion: On Errors, Rounding and Education in the Kingdom of Larsa
	Abstract
Appendix 1 Texts
	1.A Economic Texts
		1.A.a
		1.A.b
	1.B Mathematical Texts
Appendix 2 Numeracy by Scribe
	2.A Scribe A
	2.B Lu-igisa—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	2.C Scribe B
	2.D Ilšu-ibbišu
	2.E Scribe C
	2.F Scribe D
	2.G Gimillum—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.H Itti-Sîn-milki
	2.I Šamaš-aššu-aplu—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	2.J Nabi-Šamaš A—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	2.K Šulpae-nāṣir and Ilī-ippalsam
	2.L Ubār-Šamaš—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.M Scribe E—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.N Uncertain Scribes—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.O Sîn-māgir—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.P Ṣillī-Šamaš—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.Q Sîn-errēš—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.R Scribe F—Grain Storage Bureau
	2.S Scribe G—Possibly Grain Storage Bureau
	2.T Šēp-Sîn A
	2.U Scribe H
	2.V Scribe I—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	2.W Scribe J
	2.X Scribe K
	2.Y Scribe L—Grain Harvest Archive
	2.Z Scribe M—Grain Harvest Archive
	2.AA Immer-ilī—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	2.BB Sîn-iddinam
	2.CC Sîn-rāmā
	2.DD Scribe N
	2.EE Aḫūšunu
	2.FF Scribe O—Grain Production Archive
	2.GG Scribe P—Grain Production Archive
	2.HH Nabi-Šamaš B
	2.II Scribe Q—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	2.JJ Zinnu
	2.KK Šēp-Sîn B
	2.LL Sîn-muštāl
	2.MM Abu-waqar
	2.NN Ilīma-abī
	2.OO Iddin-Ištar
	2.PP Aḫiya
	2.QQ Issu-nar-…
	2.RR Scribe R—Bureau of Irrigation and Excavation
	2.SS Scribe S
	2.TT Scribe T
	2.UU Conclusions
Appendix 3 Metrological and Numerical List and Table Catalogue
	3.A Metrological Texts
		3.A.a Capacity
		3.A.b Weight
		3.A.c Area
		3.A.d Length
		3.A.e Height
	3.B Numerical Tables
		3.B.a Reciprocals
		3.B.b Multiplication
		3.B.c Squares
		3.B.d Square Roots
		3.B.e Cube Roots
Appendix 4 Price and Wage Index and Charts
	4.A Prices, Silver
	4.B Prices, Grain
	4.C Wages, Grain
	4.D Charts
Appendix 5 Discrepancy Index
	5.A General Discrepancy Index
		5.A.a Discrepancy by Text
		5.A.b Discrepancy by Type and Per cent
	5.B Rounding
		5.B.a Rounding by Scribe
		5.B.b Rounding by Provenance
		5.B.c Rounding by Year
		5.B.d Rounding by Administration Type
		5.B.e Rounding by Placement in Text
Bibliography
Indexes to the Text Editions
Part I Akkadian and Sumerian Word Index
Part II Name Index
Part III Economic Text Index
Part IV Mathematical Text Index
Subject Index