Data tables have a long history, dating back to ancient Mesopotamia. An example is a clay tablet from the Old Babylonian Period, around 3600-4000 years ago, found in Iraq. Eleanor Robson from University College London translated the cuneiform text on the tablet, revealing what appears to be a payroll summary. This record shows that data tables, with rows, columns, and calculations, were used for record-keeping thousands of years ago. The idea that inventions like data tables progress linearly through history is challenged, as innovations can be lost and rediscovered. While modern spreadsheets may not last, ancient data tables could endure underground for centuries to come.
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