The title does not appear in the lists of offices ("taktika"), but is attested on seals and monastic charters, with the first occurrence ca. 750–850, and the last secured mention in 1189. Franz Dölger thought that the office continued in existence until 1204, after which it was replaced by the "apographeus". The duties of the office were related with the revision of the cadaster; each "anagrapheus" was usually assigned to a particular theme. According to the "Oxford Dictionary of Byzantium", its "functions were hardly distinguishable from those of the "epoptes"".