This is an old revision of the document!
Table of Contents
Proto-Elamite metrological systems
Systems used to count discrete objects
Sexagesimal System S
Used to count discrete inanimate objects.
| N8a |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N1 |  |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N14 |  |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N34 |  |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N48 |  |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N45 | |
Only two texts have conclusive evidence for the large sexagesimal notations: (CahDAFI 3, 103 01) and (MDP 31, 038).
Decimal System D
Used to count discrete animate objects, in particular domesticated animals and laborers.
| N1 | |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N14 | |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N23 |  |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N51 or N51g |   |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N54g |  |
N51g and N54g are only attested in one text (see MDP 31, 031). N51, counting low-status humans and animals, is found in five texts (MDP 06, 399; MDP 17, 275; MDP 26, 156; MDP 26, 160; MDP 26, 205).
N23 is also used as a nonnumerical sign with the value M387. Many variants of M387 are know, with approximately similar usage.
Bi-sexagesimal System B
Used to count discrete grain products; objects noted with this system may, as in archaic Babylonia, belong to a rationing system.
| N1 | |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N14 | |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N34 | |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N51 | |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N54 |  |
N54 is found in only three texts, of which only one has been collated (collated: MDP 17, 077 + 212 + 226, not collated: MDP 26, 027 and MDP 26, 360).
Bi-sexagesimal System B#
System derived from the bi-sexagesimal system B, used to count rations(?) of an unclear nature.
| N1b |  |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N14b |  |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N34b |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N51b |  |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N54b |  |
N54b is attested in only one (not collated) text (MDP 26, 360), and N51b in same and only one further (also not collated) text (MDP 26, 050).
Systems used to count measures of capacity
Capacity System C
System used primarily to note capacity measures of grain, in particular barley; some of the small units also designate bi-secually counted cereal products.
| N39c |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N30d |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N30c |  |
| ↓ ×3 | |
| N24 |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N39b |  |
| ↓ ×5 | |
| N1 | |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N14 | |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N45 |  |
| ↓ ×3 | |
| N34 | |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N48 | |
Capacity System C#
System derived from the capacity system C, possibly related to system B#.
| N30d@b |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N30c@b |  |
| ↓ ×3 | |
| N24@b |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N39b@b |  |
| ↓ ×5 | |
| N1@b | |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N14@b | |
| ↓ ×10 | |
| N45@b |  |
| ↓ ×3 | |
| N34@b | |
| ↓ ×10 | |
Capacity System C''
System derived from the capacity system C, graphically related to the Babylonian system used to measure emmer.
| N30d@c |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N30c@c |  |
| ↓ ×3 | |
| N24@c |  |
| ↓ ×2 | |
| N39b@c |  |
| ↓ ×5 | |
| N1@c |  |
| ↓ ×6 | |
| N14@c |  |
| ↓ ×10 | |
(return to Numbers & Metrology) (return to Numbers & Metrology in the 4th & 3rd millennium)
