4,000-Year-Old Cuneiform Tablet Records Earliest Known Customer Complaint

A clay tablet from the Old Babylonian period, discovered by Sir Leonard Woolley during his 1920s excavation of Ur in modern-day Iraq, contains what is considered the oldest known customer complaint. The tablet, written in cuneiform, details a dispute between a man named Nanni and a copper merchant named Ea-nāṣir, who was part of the Dilmun Traders (Dilmun referring to modern-day Bahrain). Nanni had sent a servant to purchase copper ingots from Ea-nāṣir, but upon receipt found the copper substandard and complained that his servant was treated poorly. Nanni also noted the dangerous journey his servant undertook. The tablet, smaller than a smartphone, includes Nanni's demand to select copper himself in future and his refusal of substandard ingots. Excavations of Ea-nāṣir's house in Ur yielded multiple other complaint letters regarding poor copper quality and late deliveries, suggesting Ea-nāṣir had a reputation for malpractice. The artifact provides insight into ancient legal processes, writing, and trade practices, showing that customer service expectations existed beyond the ruling class. In recent years, the story has gone viral, spawning numerous internet memes.