A joint international mission in southern Iraq has unearthed a remarkable cuneiform archive within the ruins of a Neo-Sumerian administrative hub. The tablets, belonging to the office of the 'Master of the Royal Messengers,' detail the logistics of an ancient postal system, including rations for runners, the maintenance of relay stations, and official travel permits for diplomatic envoys.
The archive provides a fascinating look at the bureaucratic precision of the Third Dynasty of Ur, recording the exact travel times between major cities like Lagash, Nippur, and Susa. Many of the tablets contain specific instructions for the treatment of foreign dignitaries, including the allocation of beer, bread, and oil for their entourages during their stay in Sumerian territory.