A Companion to Linear B - The University of Texas at Austin

108 T.G. PALAIMA §12.2.2.2
Fig. 12.44b. Backs of inscribed clay labels from Pylos (photo from PASP archives)
Top row from left: Wa 917, Wa 930
Bottom row from left: Wa 931, Wa 947, Wa 948
the piece of moist clay from behind naturally create two other small surfaces
that, along with the seal-impressed front surface, can be used to record small
bits of information that the scribes thought relevant and necessary. These surfaces
are conventionally numbered a, b and g.
Both the sealings and the labels are connected with the movement of information
through space. It is likely, however, in my opinion, that in the Palace
of Nestor at Pylos the inscriptions on the labels were made when the transport
baskets in which they were brought to the central archives (Rooms 7 and 8 at
the main entrance to the Palace of Nestor) had arrived at Archives Room 7.
Ten of the labels, in fact, were found in grid square 52 (Fig. 12.15) in Room 7
directly to the left of the doorway between the outer room (Room 7), which
was used mainly for the receipt, temporary storage and preliminary processing
of clay documents, and the inner room (Room 8), which was used mainly for
tablet filing and storage. Room 8 also had a clay bench that was used in the