Archaeologists working in the ancient port city of Thonis-Heracleion, now submerged in the Nile Delta, have recovered a perfectly preserved limestone stela serving as a grain exchange registry. Dating to the 3rd century BCE, the inscriptions detail the prices, taxes, and destinations of wheat shipments across the Mediterranean, including specific mentions of Indo-Roman trade vessels passing through the Red Sea canals.
The registry provides an unprecedented look at the economic logistics of the Ptolemaic Kingdom, revealing a highly regulated system of quality control and maritime insurance. The find is particularly significant as it mentions the exchange of Egyptian grain for Indian textiles and spices, further cementing the importance of the ancient maritime silk route.