A clay tablet, almost 4,000 years old, reveals how a Mesopotamian man named Nanni took matters into his own hands when he found himself unsatisfied with a purchase. Nanni had bought copper from a trader named Ea-nāṣir, but the quality of the goods was so poor that he decided to write a formal complaint.
A Disappointing Trade Transaction
The complaint, written in Akkadian and translated by Assyriologist Adolf Leo Oppenheim in 1967, was discovered during excavations in the ancient city of Ur in modern-day Iraq.
The tablet, measuring just 11.6 by 5 centimeters (roughly 4.6 by 2 inches), was inscribed with grievances about the copper Nanni received from Ea-nāṣir. Nanni wasn’t just disappointed; he was furious. “You put ingots [of copper] which were not good before my messenger and said, ‘If you want to take them, take them, if you do not want to take them, go away!” Nanni writes.
It’s clear that this wasn’t just a matter of a bad transaction. Nanni had already handed over money for a certain amount of copper, only to find out that the goods he received were not up to standard.
The Importance of Copper in the Ancient World
Copper was an essential resource in Mesopotamia, the key ingredient in the bronze that defined the Bronze Age. The region had a booming trade industry, and copper was crucial for manufacturing tools, weapons, and various items of daily life. The Tilmun copper mentioned in Nanni’s complaint was particularly significant, and it was widely traded across Southern Mesopotamia.
However, by the time Nanni wrote his complaint in 1750 BCE, Tilmun copper had started to decline in quality and quantity, eventually overtaken by competitors from Magan.
A Scathing Complaint
According to Science Alert, Nanni’s grievance didn’t end with the poor quality of copper. He was also upset by how he and his messenger were treated. He writes,”I have sent messengers, gentlemen like ourselves, to collect the bag with my money (deposited with you) but you have treated me with contempt by sending them back to me empty-handed several times.”
Nanni had sent multiple attempts to retrieve his copper, but each time, he was met with contempt. “Is there anyone among the merchants who trade with [Tilmun] who has treated me in this way? You alone treat my messenger with contempt!” Nanni continues.
Nanni was not only displeased with the poor quality of copper, but also with the way his requests were dismissed. His complaint, inscribed on both sides of the tablet, was a detailed and passionate letter that left nothing to chance. He even demanded a full refund. He would only accept copper of the finest quality, even if that meant personally inspecting each ingot.
The Legacy of Nanni’s Complaint
The tablet, found alongside several others in Ea-nāṣir’s dwelling, gives us a unique glimpse into the economic practices of the time. Nanni’s complaint is the oldest known record of such a dispute, but it wasn’t the only one.
It seems that Ea-nāṣir had a reputation for angering customers. Despite this, he appears to have been a meticulous record keeper, as the archaeological site revealed multiple complaints about his business dealings.
