A newly discovered cuneiform archive in the ancient city of Ur has shed light on the prominent role of women in Mesopotamian commerce. The 350 clay tablets, dated to the Third Dynasty of Ur, document the activities of a 'Guild of Female Textile Merchants' who managed their own capital, real estate, and international trade contracts without male oversight.
The tablets record several legal disputes where female merchants successfully sued for breach of contract or non-payment of goods. These records include notarized sealings and signatures, proving that women held significant legal standing and economic power. Many of the contracts involve the export of high-quality wool to the Persian Gulf in exchange for semi-precious stones.
This archive challenges previous assumptions that Sumerian women were largely confined to domestic roles or temple service. Instead, it depicts a thriving class of female entrepreneurs who were instrumental in the city's financial administration and the maintenance of its textile industry, which was the backbone of the Sumerian economy.