Three New Multiplication Tables From the Louvre: AO 8900, AO 8901, AND AO 8902

Abstract

AO 8900, AO 8901, and AO 8902 are three hitherto unpublished Old Babylonian mathematical cuneiform tablets containing multiplication tables. Their physical and textual characteristics suggest that they were produced in the same ancient context. What is remarkable about this small set of tablets is that, unlike most such tablets, two of them have colophons: in AO 8900 we find a month-and-day date, while in AO 8901 we find a damaged year name. These tablets are published here for the first time, together with a discussion of how the information about the year name in AO 8901 fits in what is known about the dating of Old Babylonian mathematics.