"Tally sticks remind us that money is not a scarce commodity but an accounting system rooted in political authority." Among the Maya, bone tally sticks appear in Late Classic (600–900 AD) painted court scenes and royal burials. These archaeological findings support Rosenswig's theory that Maya tribute systems were fundamentally accounting mechanisms rather than commercial exchanges. "Yet each of these civilizations independently developed tally sticks as a way to mobilize resources through state authority." Source: Photo by Justin Kerr/Justin Kerr Maya archive, used by permission/University at AlbanyThe article ‘Study: Ancient Tally Sticks Challenge Myths About Money”, by Michael Parker was originally published by the University at Albany, and has been republished with light editing.