Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · Anonymous 497570 — private: anonymous, unlocated
Anonymous 497570
In plain English
This tablet records that three bundles of reed, along with gisal-reed, were delivered from a barge to the goat-pen (E-mash). The transaction was sealed by an official named Damu. It is dated to the month of Dal, in the year that Bitum-rabium was destroyed. The document was written by the scribe Ushmu, son of Lugal-[...], whose father's name is broken off at the edge of the tablet.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 bundles of reed, gisal-reed, for the E-mash (goat-house), from the barge, under seal of Da-mu. Month: Dal. Year: 'Bitum-rabium was [destroyed].' Ush-mu, scribe, son of Lugal-[...].”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · PPL 03 — Phoenix Public Library, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
ArOr 87, 033-057 07
In plain English
Five sheep, allotted for the ewes, were transferred from Abba-saga's account and received by Puzur-Enlil, son of Lu-kalla, at Nippur. The transaction is dated to the twelfth month, in the year Huhnuri was destroyed. The tablet also bears the seal impression of a Puzur-Enlil, identified there as the son of Ezi-mu — the same name as the receiving official, though with a different father's name given on the seal.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“5 sheep, for the ewes, from Abba-saga, Puzur-Enlil, son of Lu-kalla, received (took in charge). In Nippur. Month: "Harvest" (month XII). Year: "Huhnuri was destroyed." (Seal legend:) Puzur-Enlil, son of [Ezi-mu].”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · PPL 01 — Phoenix Public Library, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
ArOr 87, 033-057 11
In plain English
This tablet is a short ration voucher. It records that 4 barig of flour (labeled gu2-na) went out through the musician acting as courier. Separately, 2 ban2 and 8 sila3 of flour went to a man named Lugal-kuzu, issued from the stores of Šara-amu, who held the title of šandana, a senior administrator. Further down, 1 barig 5 ban2 6 sila3 went to Akalla the fisherman, 3 ban2 went to Ur-Dumuzida, and 1 barig 5 ban2 went to Adda the scribe. In short: a list of flour rations paid out to several named workers and officials, tracked carefully down to the liter, as was routine in Ur III institutional bookkeeping.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 barig flour, gu2-na — via Nar (the musician). 2 ban2 8 sila3 (for) Lugal-kuzu, from Šara-amu, the šandana (chief administrator). 1 barig 5 ban2 6 sila3 (for) Akalla, the fisherman [šu-ku6], 3 ban2 (for) Ur-Dumuzida, 1 barig 5 ban2 (for) [Ad]da, [the scribe].”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · AUAM 73.0557 — Siegfried H. Horn Museum, Institute of Archaeology, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, USA
AUCT 3, 337
In plain English
This tablet records that a certain amount of silver — the exact weight is broken away — was issued from Ur-Duku's account. Ur-šumah, holding some official title (now illegible), and a man named Lugal-sa'e are recorded as having received it. What the silver was for is lost in a broken line. At the bottom, the tablet is signed off with the seal identification: 'Ur-šumah, son of Katar,' confirming whose authority stood behind the transaction.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[x] mana of silver, refined-[x] [x], from Ur-Duku, [x] Ur-šumah, the PA-[...], and Lugal-sa'e received. [...] for the [...] of ... (break) Ur-šumah, son of Katar.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · Anonymous 464282 — private: anonymous, Barcelona, Spain
AuOr 31, 232 02
In plain English
One animal (the exact kind is lost to a break in the tablet) died on the 13th day of the month. The loss was recorded as transferred from Uta-mišaram to Šulgi-irimu, who took receipt of it — likely meaning he formally acknowledged the death for the state's accounting records rather than physically receiving a living animal. The entry is dated to the month of Akiti, in the year when the high priest or priestess of Eridu was installed. The tablet closes with a total of one, confirming a single animal is being accounted for.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[1 (animal, broken)] ... died. 13th day. From Uta-mišaram, Šulgi-irimu received. Month: Akiti. Year: "the en-priest(ess) of Eridu was installed." 1 (total).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · Anonymous 464283 — private: anonymous, Barcelona, Spain
AuOr 31, 232 03
In plain English
On the 15th day of the month, one male donkey was transferred from Abba-saga into the custody of the official Šu-Erra. This happened in the month called 'u5-bi2-gu7' in the local Drehem calendar, during the year when the en-priest of Inanna was installed in Uruk — a year-name that lets us date the transaction to the reign of Shu-Sin. The tablet ends with a summary total of one animal, confirming the single entry recorded above.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 male donkey, day 15, from Abba-saga, Šu-Erra received (took in charge). Month: "u5-bi2-gu7" (Drehem calendar month), year: "the en-priest of Inanna was installed in Uruk." 1 (total).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · Anonymous 464284 — private: anonymous, Barcelona, Spain
AuOr 31, 233 04
In plain English
On the 23rd day of the month, three sheep that had been fattened on grain were handed over from Abba-saga's custody to a man named Nalu, who took receipt of them. The transaction is dated to the month called "gazelle-consumption" and to the year remembered as "Huhnuri was destroyed" — a reference to a military campaign under the Ur III king Šu-Suen. The tally at the bottom confirms the total: three sheep.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 grain-fed sheep, day 23, from Abba-saga, Nalu received (took in charge). Month: "Mašdagu" (gazelle-consumption), year: "Huhnuri was destroyed." 3 (total)”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · Anonymous 464285 — private: anonymous, Barcelona, Spain
AuOr 31, 233 05
In plain English
One nanny goat, of the Šimaški breed, was handed over on the 14th day. It came from Abba-saga and was received by Utamišaram. The transaction is dated to the month Šu-eššša, in the year 'Huhnuri was destroyed' — a year name commemorating a military victory under king Šu-Suen. The tablet closes with a total of one animal.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 nanny goat, (of) Šimaški, the 14th day, from Abba-[sa]ga, Utamišaram received (took in charge). Month: "Šu-eššša", year: "Huhnuri [was destroyed]." 1 (total).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry