Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-013 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0683
In plain English
One finished šagadu-garment was handed over from Aštaqarta to Puzur-akum, who signed for it as received. The transaction is dated to the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year the great ceremonial barge was caulked — a standard Ur III year-name under King Šulgi. The tablet was then sealed, with the seal legend naming Šu-Kabta as the overseeing authority, and identifying Azu, son of Naram-ili, alongside Puzur-akum the fuller, who is described as Šu-Kabta's servant.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 finished šagadu-garment (tug2 sza3-ga-du3, "du"-quality) — from Aštaqarta, Puzur-akum received. Month: “festival of Šulgi” (iti ezem-Šulgi). Year: “the great magur-boat was caulked” (mu ma2-gur8-mah ba-ab-du8). (Seal legend:) Šu-Kabta — Azu, son of Naram-ili; Puzur-akum, the fuller, is your servant.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-09-003 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0788
In plain English
A record shows that 1 2/3 minas of alkali-plant bricks — cakes used for soap- or glass-making — were issued out from Hani's stock. The transaction is dated to the month of the Ninazu festival, in the year the high priestess of Inanna at Uruk was chosen by omen (a year of King Šu-Suen's reign). The tablet was sealed by the scribe Iškur-illat, son of Abia, who names himself as servant of Me-Ištaran, the king's beloved sister — likely the royal woman connected to the Garšana estate whose household this text comes from.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 2/3 mina — the weight of naga-plant bricks (alkali/soda-ash cakes) — from Hani, were disbursed (booked out). [Month]: 'Festival of Ninazu.' [Year]: 'The en-priestess of Inanna of Uruk was chosen by (goat-kid) extispicy.' (Seal inscription:) Šu-Suen, mighty king, king of Ur, king of the four quarters — Me-Ištaran, his beloved sister: Iškur-illat, son of Abia, is your servant, the scribe.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-04-002 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0806
In plain English
This tablet is a receipt: a set of textiles — one first-quality nig-lam wrap, a 'batab-duhhum' cloak, a 'shagadu' version of that cloak, two headcloth versions of it, plus a lower-grade nig-lam and a tufted garment, along with eight 'weaver's-head' cloths and six ordinary weaver's cloths — was handed over by Aštaqarta and received by Puzur-akum. The transaction is dated to the month of the Mekigal festival, in a year identified by the formula about the installation of the high priestess of Inanna of Uruk (the end of this date is broken and has been restored from the standard formula).
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 nig-lam2 garment, 3rd-grade quality (us2); 1 batab-duhhum garment, 3rd-grade quality; 1 shagadu batab-duhhum garment, 3rd-grade quality; 2 sagšu batab-duhhum garments, 3rd-grade quality; 1 nig-lam2 garment, 4th-grade quality; 1 guzza (tufted) garment, 4th-grade quality; 8 sag-ušbar textiles; 6 ušbar textiles; from Aštaqarta; Puzur-akum received. Month: "Festival of Me-kigal"; Year: "the en-priestess of Inanna of Uruk [was chosen by the kid-omen]" [restored].”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-08-014 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0831
In plain English
A batch of fine 'mah' garments belonging to Habum is recorded, weighing a half-talent and fifteen and a third minas in total, with a shortfall of one unit against the expected figure. The goods came from Ili-uzranni. The next lines are broken, but the text picks up with a note that they were received, carried by an official named Ili-lī-... The record is dated to the month of ki-siki-Ninazu; the year name and the remaining lines are lost to damage.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[n] mah-garments: Habum. Their weight: 1/2 talent (and) 15 1/3 mina, its deficit being 1 (unit) [shekel(?)]. From Ili-uzranni [...] [received (šu ba-ti)]. Via Ili-lī-... Month: ki-siki-Ninazu. Year: [...] [...]”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-02-008 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0852
In plain English
This receipt records that 2 hides from grain-fed sheep and 1 hide from a grain-fed billy goat, along with hides from sheep that had died, were handed over by a man named Iškur-illat. Anah-ili received them. The transaction is dated to the month of the 'Festival of Me-ki-gal,' in the year when 'the great stele was erected' — a year-name associated with king Shu-Sin of Ur.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 hides of grain-fed sheep, 1 hide of a grain-fed billy goat, hides of sheep that died (ba-uš2) — from Iškur-illat, [Anah-ili] received. Month: "Festival of Me-ki-gal," Year: "The great stele was erected."”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-047 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0854
In plain English
A batch of hides — from sheep that had been fattened on grain before being slaughtered — was handed over by an official named Iškur-illat. Anah-ili signed for and received them. The transaction was recorded in a month whose festival name is now broken away, dated to the year when 'the great stele was erected' (a year-name from the reign of King Šu-Suen). It's a routine bookkeeping entry, one line in a much larger ledger of livestock and hide accounts kept at the Garšana estate.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[n] hides of grain-fed sheep, slaughtered (ba-usz2), from Iškur-illat, Anah-i[li] received. [Month]: “Festival of [...]”, Year: “The great stele was erected” (for them).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-002 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0858
In plain English
This tablet is a receipt for 12 pairs of sandals (a standard walking type) issued as a mandatory ration to soldiers. The sandals were charged out of the account of Ana-ah-ili. The transaction is dated to the month called 'Gazelle-feast,' in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed — a year-name from King Šulgi's reign. The document is addressed to the official Šu-Kabta, and closes with the names of Azu (son of Naram-ili) and the scribe Iškur-illat (son of Abiya), who identify themselves as his servants — the standard sign-off for this kind of internal estate paperwork.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“12 sandals, 'du'-type [broken sign, uncertain] — e2-ba-an(?), the nig2-dab5 (obligatory delivery/allotment) of the soldiers (aga3-us2-e-ne), from Ana-ah-ili it was withdrawn (disbursed). Month: 'Mašdagu' (the gazelle-feast month). Year: 'the land of Zabšali was destroyed' (a Šulgi year-name). [To] Šu-Kabta: Azu, son of Naram-ili; Iškur-illat, the scribe, son of Abiya — your servant(s).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-035 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0863
In plain English
One hide from a grain-fed sheep — logged as an expenditure — was handed over by Iškur-illat and received by Anah-ili. The transaction is dated to the month called u5-bi2-gu7, in the year when the land of Zabšali was destroyed (a year-name of King Šu-Suen). It's a brief, routine inventory entry: a single hide moving from one person's account to another's custody.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 hide of a grain-fed sheep, hide of a sheep, booked expenditure — from Iškur-illat, Anah-ili received. Month: u5-bi2-gu7, year: "the land of Zabšali was destroyed."”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry