Byzantine iPad found by archaeologists in Bosphorus

In one of the harbors on the European side of the Bosphorus Strait, Turkish archaeologists have discovered a strange wooden object that is at least 1,200 years old. In their opinion, it is the ancient equivalent of modern tablet computers.
Apparently, this wooden object belonged to the captain of the ship. The device consists of two parts – a “computer” and a toolbox. The cover of the device is decorated with thin carvings with jewelry, and its dimensions almost completely correspond to the dimensions of a modern 7-inch tablet. True, the progenitor is much fatter.

The “monitor” of the ancient tablet is represented by five overhead rectangular panels covered with wax, which were intended for recording. Fortunately, some of their fragments have survived. Of great interest are the circular niches carved in the lid, which were assigned the role of primitive “applications”.

Everything suggests that this unique device for its time was used on a merchant ship as a tool for assessing the value of certain items, in particular, to determine the content of metal in the ore or precious metals in the alloy.

The find was found among the fragments of one of 37 sunken ships belonging to ancient Byzantium. Excavations are being conducted in Yenical, one of the districts of Istanbul for 10 years. In the 4th century AD, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius I, there was a large commercial port named in his honor.

Source: techcult.ru