ACCOUNTING AND CONTROL IN THE PERSEPOLIS FORTIFICATION TABLETS

The bookkeeping records collected and retained by accountants of the Persian Empire centered at Persepolis from 509-494 B.C. are examined in this paper. A powerful bureaucracy exercised control over foodstuffs to supply an immense number of royal and state personnel and workers with their ration needs. A sophisticated accounting system facilitated this control, making visible not only the quantities of food assets distributed but also the locations and individuals responsible for these distributions.