The ancient city of Teos lies on an isthmus reaching outward from Turkey’s west coast into the emerald waters of the Mediterranean. Over 2,000 years ago, it was one of many Ionian Greek cities that dotted the coastline and islands here. Today it’s an archaeological goldmine, but not just for its crumbling temples and amphitheater. Scientists have excavated hundreds of stele, or inscribed stone tablets, which give us a peek inside the bureaucracy that ran this city for centuries. We can learn a lot about this ancient culture from even the most mundane documents, like a 58-line lease agreement recently unearthed by Akdeniz University archaeologist Mustafa Adak.