Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-15-077 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0881
In plain English
This tablet records that Anah-ili, a leatherworker and son of Saba, took delivery of some raw hide materials from a man called Iškur-illat: one ox-hide, two ox-horns, and one hide from an ox's tail. The transaction is dated to the month of Šu-eš'a, in the year that king Šu-Suen destroyed the land of Zabšali — a standard way Ur III scribes dated documents, by naming a notable event of that year. It's a routine workshop supply receipt, the kind of small paperwork trail generated constantly by the Ur III state's centralized craft economy.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 ox-hide, 2 ox-horns, 1 hide of the ox-tail — from Iškur-illat, Anah-ili received. Month: Šu-eš'a, year: "The land of Zabšali was destroyed." (Sealed by:) 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 48-04-021 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0886
In plain English
Six sheep hides were issued from Iškur-illat's stores and received by the leatherworker Ana-ah-ili, son of Sa'aba. The transaction was recorded in the month of the me-ki-gal festival, in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed — a routine supply record from the leatherworking operations at Garšana.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“6 sheep hides, from Iškur-illat, Ana-ah-ili received. Month: "Festival of me-ki-gal" (Garšana calendar), Year: "The land of Zabšali was destroyed." Ana-ah-ili, the leatherworker, son of Sa'aba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · high confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-030 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0891
In plain English
The record notes that a supply officer named Iškur-illat issued materials to the leatherworker Ana-ah-ili, son of Saba: 5 sila (about 5 liters) of lard, 2 sila of a gold-tinted clay or gilding paste, and 20 mana's weight of brick. Ana-ah-ili signed for and received the goods. The transaction is dated to the month called 'Gazelle-Feast,' in the year known as 'the great barge was built' — a formulaic year-name used at Garšana under the Ur III administration.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“5 sila3 lard (i3-šah2), 2 sila3 gold-clay (gilding paste) (im ku3-sig17), 20 mana, weight of brick(s)/mudbrick (sig4) — from Iškur-illat, Ana-ah-ili received. Month: 'Gazelle-Feast' (maš-da3-gu7), Year: 'The great barge was fashioned' (mu ma2-gur8-mah mu-ne-dim2). An-na-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 48-02-010 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0892
In plain English
This tablet is a routine inventory receipt: one sheep hide of the qilpum type, one of the erina type, two dried leather pouches called tibala, and one sandal (the rest of that line is broken) were all taken out of storage — charged against the account of a man named Anah-ili. The transaction is dated to the month of Šešdagu, in the year that the great ceremonial barge was built. The tablet was sealed with the seal of Šu-Kabta the physician, son of Naram-ili; the seal legend names the scribe Iškur-illat, son of Abi'a, as his servant.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sheep hide, qilpum-type, 1 sheep hide, erina-type, 2 dry leather bags (tibala), dried, 1 sandal [...], from Anah-ili, was withdrawn (disbursed). Month: Šešdagu. Year: 'The great barge (Magur-mah) was built.' (Seal legend:) Šu-Kabta, physician, son of Naram-ili; Iškur-illat, 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~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-012 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0900
In plain English
This is a receipt: two leather quivers (or similar containers) of the 'ti-bala' type, dried, plus one sheepskin mouth-cover, were taken out of stock from a man named Ana-ah-ili and booked as disbursed. The transaction is dated to the month called 'ki-siki of Ninazu,' in the year that the great ceremonial barge for the gods Enlil and Ninlil was built. The document carries a seal reading: 'Šu-Kabta the physician, son of Naram-ili — Iškur-illat the scribe, son of Abi'a, is your servant,' identifying the scribe who recorded and validated the transaction as a subordinate of Šu-Kabta.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 dugan-containers (leather quivers?), ti-bala-type, dried; 1 sheepskin, ka-tab (mouth-cover/flap) — from Ana-ah-ili, was disbursed (withdrawn). Month: "ki-siki of Ninazu"; Year: "The great magur-boat, for Enlil (and) Ninlil, was [caulked/dedicated]" (mu-[du8]). (Seal:) Šu-Kabta, the physician, son of Naram-ili; 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~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-022 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0901
In plain English
A record of one pig hide handed over by a man named Iškur-illat to the leatherworker Anaḫ-ili, who acknowledged receiving it. The transaction is dated to the month called "ki-siki-Ninazu," in the year known by the formula "the great magur-boat was caulked." A closing note identifies the leatherworker again by name and gives his father's name, Saba — standard practice for pinning down exactly who received the goods in these estate accounts.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 pig hide (skin), from Iškur-illat, Anaḫ-ili received. Month: "ki-siki-Ninazu" (month 11), Year: "The great magur-boat was caulked." Anaḫ-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 48-04-013 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0906
In plain English
Four leather bags, three sheep hides, and three lamb skins were issued for wrapping purposes, along with one further leather bag associated with Šakkan. These goods were withdrawn from Anah-ili's account. The transaction is dated to the month of the Ninazu festival, in the year "the great barge was caulked." The document was sealed on behalf of Šu-Kabta the physician, son of Naram-ili, by the scribe Iškur-illat, son of Abia, who identifies himself as Šu-Kabta's servant.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 leather bags (du10-gan); 3 sheep hides; 3 lamb skins; for covering/wrapping; 1 leather bag of Šakkan; from Anah-ili it was disbursed. Month: festival of Ninazu. Year: "the great barge was caulked." Šu-Kabta, physician, son of Naram-ili; Iškur-illat, scribe, son of Abia, 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 48-04-023 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 0911
In plain English
This is a hide-issue receipt: one sheep hide and about eleven hides of another kind were handed over from Iškur-illat's stores. Ana-ah-ili — a leatherworker, son of Saba — received them (the verb is restored from a broken spot). The record is dated to the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year 'the great barge of Enlil and Ninlil was built.' A short line following the date confirms the recipient's identity and trade. The middle of the tablet has a small break where a line or two is lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1 hide of [sheep], 2. 11(?) hides of [...], 3. from Iškur-illat, 4. Ana-ah-ili 5. [received]. 6. [...] (break) 7. Month: festival of Šulgi. 8. Year: 'The great barge of Enlil (and) Ninlil was fashioned for them.' 9. Ana-ah-ili, the leatherworker, 10. son of Saba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry