University of Sistan and Baluchestan Iranian Journal of Archaeological Studies 2251-743X 16 1 2026 06 01 Proto-Elamite Culture in Light of the Newly Analysed Proto-Elamite Tablet from the State Hermitage Museum 39 44 9673 10.22111/ijas.2026.53158.1369 EN Eray Karaketir Department of History, Harran University, Şanlıurfa, Türkiye. Journal Article 2026 01 12 The period, approximately between 3300 and 2700 BCE in Iran, is known as the Proto-Elamite Period, and<br />the culture associated with this timeframe is referred to as the Proto-Elamite Culture. Centred in southwestern<br />Iran, this culture has been identified at several archaeological sites, most notably Susa and Anshan. Excavations<br />at Susa, which began in the mid-19th century, and those at Anshan, initiated in the mid-20th century, have yielded<br />significant findings related to the Proto-Elamite Culture. Among the most important discoveries are the Proto-<br />Elamite clay tablets, which provide insights into the socioeconomic structure of the Period. These tablets were<br />written in the Proto-Elamite script, recognised as the first writing system developed in Iran. They contain records<br />pertaining to agriculture and animal husbandry, calculated using various accounting methods. This study examines<br />an unpublished Proto-Elamite tablet housed in the State Hermitage Museum. It offers detailed observations and<br />interpretations of the inscriptions and signs on the tablet. Furthermore, it compares the tablet with other Proto-<br />Elamite tablets, noting similarities and differences. The tablet in question records information about small livestock<br />herds, specifically goats and sheep. As it contains details related to animal husbandry, its content aligns with that<br />found in other Proto-Elamite tablets. This study aims to advance research on the Proto-Elamite period by providing<br />a decipherment of the Proto-Elamite tablet preserved in the State Hermitage Museum. İt utilises archaeological<br />excavation reports and various modern scholarly works to enhance our understanding of this significant cultural<br />period. https://ijas.usb.ac.ir/article_9673_4e31c50dec2aa654dccba06754e018bf.pdf