Managing the Harvest in Kassite Babylonia: The Evidence for tēlītu

This study examines the administrative mechanisms for managing agricultural production in Kassite Babylonia, focusing on the term tēlītu, a critical concept in the centralized control of agricultural revenues. Drawing on previously studied texts from Nippur and newly analyzed tablets from the Dūr-Enlilē archive housed in the Rosen Collection at Cornell University, the research updates and expands upon earlier foundational studies. The evidence reveals that tēlītu referred to aggregated agricultural revenues collected annually from towns and managed through precise bureaucratic practices. These revenues were essential for sustaining various branches of the production system, with records suggesting meticulous storage and disbursement methods. The study also highlights the interconnection between Nippur and Dūr-Enlilē, suggesting that the latter served as an important economic center closely tied to the administration of the šandabakku (governor) of Nippur, under the authority of the royal government. This challenges previous interpretations of tēlītu as primarily temple revenue, underscoring its role in the secular administration. The findings emphasize the sophistication of Kassite administrative practices and the need for further investigation into the taxation and revenue systems underpinning the agricultural economy of this period.