A New Interpretation of the Early Dynastic so-called ‘Year’ Labels. ‘Balm Labels’ and the Preservation of the Memory of the King

Abstract

Inscriptions on Early Dynastic ‘oil labels’ that refer to events have long been thought to contain a ‘year-name’ that dated the oil. During the last two decades, new evidence has become available which suggests that such events referred to what had been characteristic for the regnal period of a deceased king rather than for a specific year. The labels were funerary-ceremonial rather than administrative artefacts. In addition, it can now be argued that they were balm labels rather than oil labels. Moreover, high officials of the Early Dynastic court appear to have used the labels increasingly to record their own activities in providing the precious balm.