3,200-Year-Old Egyptian Tablet Shows They Took Attendance a…

3,200-Year-Old Egyptian Tablet Shows They Took Attendance at Work and Recorded Absences

When working in large groups, it is common for some members of the same job to skip the job.

The stone slabs of the pyramid construction team at the time noted that there were workers who skipped work when building the pyramids in Egypt in 1250 BC.

The tablet, known as an ostracon, is made of limestone with New Egyptian hieratic script inked in red and black.

The days are marked by season and number, such as “month 4 of Winter, day 24.”
On that date, a worker named Pennub missed work because his mother was ill.

Other employees were absent due to their own illnesses.

One Huynefer was frequently “suffering with his eye.”

Seba, meanwhile, was bitten by a scorpion.
Several employees also had to take time off to embalm and wrap their deceased relatives.