Archaeologists at the ancient port city of Lothal have unearthed a unique administrative building containing a vast archive of terracotta tokens and standardized ration-plates. The inscriptions on the clay sealings identify the occupant as the 'Overseer of the Royal Mess-Halls', a role responsible for the distribution of daily food portions to the city's labor force and visiting maritime traders from Mesopotamia.
The find is crucial for understanding the Indus Valley Civilization's socio-economic organization. The archive details the exact measures of barley and wheat allocated to different sectors of the city, suggesting a highly centralized and egalitarian food-security system. Each ration plate is stamped with the Unicorn seal, indicating royal or central authority, and the building's proximity to the famous dockyard suggests it played a vital role in Lothal’s maritime logistics.