Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2098 BCE · Kress 240 — private: anonymous, Germany
Kress 240
In plain English
This is a receipt: 7 1/2 shekels of wool (of the 'su'a' type or quality), classified as a royal consignment, was handed over by Šulgi-mišar and received by Ilabunigadu. The transaction took place at Puzriš-Dagan. It is dated to the month called 'piglets-devoured,' in the year following the year in which 'the throne of Enlil was fashioned' — a standard Ur III dating formula pointing to the reign of King Amar-Suen.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“7 1/2 shekels of su’a(?)-wool, a royal nig-daga (consignment/delivery) from Šulgi-mišar, Ilabunigadu received; within Puzriš-Dagan. Month: 'šah-ku-gu7' (piglets-devoured), Year following the year: 'The throne of Enlil was fashioned.'”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2086 BCE · Ashm 1923-0427 — Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK
AAICAB 1/1, pl. 055, 1923-427
In plain English
Fifteen kaskal-[...] (probably a kind of bird; the end of the word is lost) and seven doves were delivered to the palace from Lugal-kuzu. The person who carried them is named, but the name is broken. The transfer is certified by Ur-Šulpa'e's seal. It is dated to the month of Dal in the year the throne of Enlil was made. The seal reads: Ur-Šulpa'e, scribe, son of Lugal-kugani.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 15 kaskal-[...] 2. 7 tu-gur8 (doves), 3. brought into the palace, 4. from Lugal-kuzu; 5. via x-[...]; 6. sealed document of Ur-[Šul]pa'e. Reverse 7. Month: Dal; 8. year: "The throne of Enlil [was fashioned]" (Amar-Suen 3). Seal 1. Ur-[Šulpa]'e, 2. scribe, 3. son of Lugal-kuga[ni].”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2085 BCE · Ashm 1924-0555 — Ashmolean Museum, Oxford, UK
AAICAB 1/1, pl. 059, 1924-0555
In plain English
Two lambs were handed over by Abba-saga and received by Inta'ea on the 28th day of the leap month that followed the Mekigal festival month. This was in the year the throne of Enlil was made. The edge repeats the total: 2.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Obverse 1. 2 lambs, 2. 28th day, 3. from Abba-saga 4. Inta'ea received. Reverse 5. Extra month following Ezem-Mekigal, 6. year: "The throne of Enlil was fashioned." Left edge 7. 2 (lambs).”
Source: engine:claude-opus-5-5 (2026-09-20/v8-evolved) · claude-opus-5-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2080 BCE · Anonymous 497527 — private: anonymous, unlocated
Anonymous 497527
In plain English
Record: one suckling lamb, newly born, received through Lu-kalla and placed in the (wooden) storehouse. Dated to the 23rd day of the month of the Dumuzi festival, in the year when the high priestess of Inanna was chosen by omen-reading. A short, routine livestock intake receipt from the Ur III bureaucracy at Girsu.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 suckling lamb (sila4 ga), newborn (u3-tu-da), (from/via) Lu-kalla, within the (wooden) storehouse [wood], month: "Festival of Dumuzi," day 23 having passed, year: "the en-priestess of Inanna was chosen by omens (masz)."”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2080 BCE · WCMA 20.1.27 — Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, Massachusetts, USA
Orient 55, 167 no. 14
In plain English
One ewe died on the 30th day, at Tummal. Šulgi-irimu took receipt of it (the carcass or the loss was formally recorded) from En-dingir-mu. Recorded in the month of the Festival of Ninazu, in the year the en-priest(ess) of Nanna was installed.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 ewe, died (deceased), 30th day, in Tummal, from En-dingir-mu, Šulgi-irimu received. Month: "Festival of Ninazu" (11th month, Ur calendar), Year: "The en-priest(ess) of Nanna was installed."”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2072 BCE · CUNES 48-06-015 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0544
In plain English
Five gur of barley were paid out as wages for hired workers. The grain came from Iškur-illat and was received by Dingir-bani, the foreman in charge of the hired laborers. The transaction is dated to the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year that Simurrum was destroyed. The tablet ends with Dingir-bani's name and that of his father, Ili-šar, evidently recorded as the responsible or receiving party.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“5 gur [barley], the wages of hired workers, from Iškur-illat, Dingir-bani, foreman of the hired workers, received. Month: "Festival of Šulgi." Year: "Simurrum was destroyed." Dingir-bani, son of Ili-šar.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2072 BCE · CUNES 48-06-014 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0545
In plain English
Three gur of barley were paid out as wages to hired laborers for earthworks. The barley came from Zabula's account, and Iškur-illat, the estate's household manager, took receipt of it. The transaction was carried out through Ili-ašranni, a porter, in connection with the field called Šumpupu. It is dated to the month Šueša, in the year that Simurrum was destroyed. The tablet closes with a seal identifying Ili-ašranni as an official in service to Me-ištaran.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 gur barley [(measure)], wages of hired worker(s), for (the transport/work of) earth, from Zabula, Iškur-illat, the household administrator (šabra), received (it). Via Ili-ašranni, the porter, (concerning) the field Šumpupu. Month: "Šueša," year: "Simurrum [was destroyed]." (Seal:) Ili-ašranni, servant of Me-ištaran.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2072 BCE · CUNES 48-06-008 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1032
In plain English
One sheep was taken out of the flock — recorded for [...]-Nergal — on the day associated with Elunum. It came from the holdings of Ili-bilani and was formally withdrawn from the account. This happened in the month of ki-siki-Ninazu, in the year Simurrum was destroyed (a Šulgi-era year name). The entry is tied to Šu-Kabta, possibly acting as physician or overseeing authority, and to a man named (A)zu, son of Naram-ili. The clay was sealed by the scribe Iškur-illat, son of Abi'a, who identifies himself as the servant of the sealing official.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[1] sheep, for [...]-Nergal, on the day of Elunum, from Ili-bilani, was disbursed (ba-zi). Month: '[ki]-siki of Ninazu.' Year: 'Sim[urr]um was destroyed.' Šu-Kabta, the physician (?), son of Naram-ili. (Seal legend:) Iškur-illat, the scribe, son of Abi'a, is your servant.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry