legal authority of the document may be derived primarily from the
list of witnesses.^1533.3.2 Documents^154
3.3.2.1 Numerous texts refer to documents (') establishing or sup-
porting ownership, which seem to form the basis for executing legal
actions or supporting claims.^155 In P. Berlin 9010, the court is con-
cerned with establishing the existence and authenticity of the rele-
vant document. Witnesses are called upon to swear oaths that the
document is genuine. Apparently, three witnesses are deemed sufficient.3.3.2.2 In the decree of Pharaoh Neferirkare forbidding the removal
of any prophet for corvée or construction work, the prohibitions are
followed by the declaration: “There is no ‘written document’ which
can give any right over them.”^1563.3.2.3 The emphasis on writing in the texts and titles implies that
court verdicts and legal transactions were recorded and placed in
archives.^157 Weni also characterizes one of an official’s functions as
“putting into writing” the details of an important case (Urk. 1, 101, 2).3.3.2.4 Most preserved Old Kingdom legal texts are probably stone
copies of papyrus documents, which may omit features of the orig-
inal version.^1583.3.2.5 As in later periods, letters may serve as legally valid
documents.^159(^153) Goedicke, Rechtsinschriften.. ., 41.
(^154) See ibid., 194–99.
(^155) Eyre, “Work.. .,” 6; Gödecken, Meten.. ., 195. On the legal usage of the
term “document” ('), see Strudwick, Administration.. ., 210–13; Goedicke, Königliche
Dokumente.. ., 29; Baer, “Deed.. .,” 6; Moussa and Altenmüller, Nianchchnum...,
- On the lack of standardized format for Old Kingdom private legal decrees, see
Manuelian, “Essay.. .,” 13.
(^156) Goedicke, Königliche Dokumente.. ., 22.
(^157) Strudwick, Administration.. ., 181. On sealing as a guarantee of the authen-
ticity of the document, see Boochs, Siegel und Siegeln...
(^158) Helck, “Akten. I.” LÄ1, col. 118.
(^159) Baer, “Deed.. .,” 6.
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