Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-036 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0866
In plain English
Anah-ili received three hides from grain-fed sheep, issued by Iškur-illat. The transaction was recorded in the month of ki-siki-Ninazu, in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed. The document bears a seal identifying Šu-Kabta the physician, son of Naram-ili, and naming Iškur-illat the scribe, son of Abiya, as his servant — the scribe who authenticated the record on Šu-Kabta's behalf.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 hides of grain-fed sheep, from Iškur-illat, Anah-ili received. Month: "ki-siki-Ninazu" (month 11), Year: "the land of Zabšali was destroyed." (Seal:) Šu-Kabta, the physician, son of Naram-ili; Iškur-illat, scribe, son of Abiya, is your servant.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-02-010 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0867
In plain English
This is a receipt for hides: one unidentified hide, one sheep hide, two more unidentified hides, a sheep hide that was booked out of stock, two more sheep hides, and a sheep hide set aside for the regular offerings. Iškur-illat issued these hides, and Anah-ili acknowledged receiving them. The transaction is dated to the month of Ninazu's festival, in the year King Šulgi's army destroyed the land of Zabšali.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 hide of [...] 1 sheep hide 2 hides of [...] sheep hide, booked out (zi-ga) 2 sheep hides sheep hide, for regular offerings (sa2-du11) from Iškur-illat Anah-ili received. Month: 'ki-siki of Ninazu' Year: 'the land of Zabšali was destroyed'”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-09-150 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0868
In plain English
This tablet records that four sheep hides — leftover from animals used for food rations — were issued by Iškur-illat and taken in by Ana-ah-ili. The transaction is dated to the month of the ki-siki festival of Ninazu, in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed. A seal stamped on the tablet identifies the recipient as Ana-hili, son of Saba, a leatherworker, confirming he was the craftsman who took the hides for processing.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 hides of sheep, from consumption (rations) — from Iškur-illat; Ana-ah-ili received (them). Month: "ki-siki-Ninazu"; Year: "the land of Zabšali was destroyed." (seal inscription:) Ana-hili, son of Saba, leatherworker.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-036 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0870
In plain English
Ana-ah-ili received two hides — one from a grain-fed sheep and one from a grain-fed billy-goat — handed over by Iškur-illat. The transaction was recorded in the month of the Ninazu festival, in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed (the third year of King Šu-Suen's reign).
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 hide of a grain-fed sheep, 1 hide of a grain-fed billy-goat, from Iškur-illat, Ana-ah-ili received. Month: festival of Ninazu, 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~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-028 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0875
In plain English
A leatherworker named Ana-ah-ili received three hides — one from a grain-fed sheep and two from grain-fed billy-goats — handed over by Iškur-illat. The transaction is dated to the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year the land of Zabšali was destroyed. A closing note identifies the recipient more fully: Ana-ah-ili the leatherworker, son of Saba.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 hide of a grain-fed sheep, 2 hides of grain-fed billy-goats, from Iškur-illat, Ana-ah-ili received. Month: "Festival of Šulgi." Year: "The land of Zabšali was destroyed." Ana-ah-ili, the leatherworker, son of Saba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-029 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0876
In plain English
A receipt: Anah-ili took delivery of 1 5/6 minas of sheep fat, sourced from Iškur-illat. The transaction is dated to the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year the land of Zabšali was destroyed. The document carries the seal of the recipient, identified as Anah-ili the leatherworker, son of Saba.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 5/6 mina of sheep fat (tallow) — from Iškur-illat, Anah-ili received. Month: 'Festival of Šulgi' (iti ezem-šulgi). Year: 'The land of Zabšali was destroyed.' (Seal:) Anah-ili, the leatherworker, son of Saba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-019 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0878
In plain English
Two sila of lard were issued for treating leather. The lard came from Iškur-illat and was received by Ana-ah-ili. Dated to the month of the Šu-Suen festival, in the year the land of Zabšali was destroyed. Note: Ana-ah-ili is a leatherworker, son of Saba.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 sila3 lard (i3-šah2) — for leather (mu kuš-še3), from Iškur-illat, Ana-ah-ili received. Month: 'Festival of Šu-Suen,' year: 'The land of Zabšali was destroyed.' (Colophon:) Ana-ah-ili, the leatherworker (ašgab), son of Saba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-020 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0879
In plain English
A receipt: 1 ban2 of coarse flour was issued from Malik-bani's stores and received by Anah-ili. The transaction is dated to the month of the Šu-Suen festival, in the year King Šu-Suen's forces destroyed the land of Zabšali. A closing note identifies the recipient more fully as An-ah-ili the leatherworker, son of Saba — likely the same person named earlier, with his profession and parentage added for the record.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 ban2 (of) dabin-flour (semolina-grade barley flour), from Malik-bani, Anah-ili received. Month: "Festival of Šu-Suen," year: "The land of Zabšali was destroyed." An-ah-ili, the leatherworker (aszgab), son of Saba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry