C(r)ash Bandicoot:
the Mice-Catching Industry

Two snapshots into the history of the mouse-catching food industry. While not certain, these mice were likely the short-tailed bandicoot rat (Nesokia bunnii).

Sippar (September, 549 BCE):

"For two years, Shamash-zer-ibni, son of Arad-Nabu, is at the disposal of Arad-Nabu, the royal 'reed mouse' catcher; he will learn the craft. Arad-Nabu will give reed mice to Shamash-zer-ibni as Shamash-zer-ibni's quota. Whoever breaks the contract owes 1,000 reed mice."

Pī-Kasî (mod. Tell Abu Antiq), Old Babylonian period:

"Speak to Nur-Shamash, thus Shamash-nasir:

May Shamash and Marduk keep you well. Tutu-magir sent me seven reed mice from his town. I sent six to Shamash-lamassashu the zabardabbu; I held back one for myself. It was so tasty! Had I known how tasty (they were), I would not have sent a single one to Shamash-lamassashu.

When you go to Tutu-magir's town, speak to an orchardist there and have him dig up and send me fifteen reed mice in addition to the ram I mentioned earlier."