Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-007 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1012
In plain English
This record notes five animals handed out from Ili-bilani's stock: one sheep for the regular offering to Inanna of Zabala, one sheep for the regular offering to Šara of Umma, one kid for the king's statue, one sheep for a person named Malati, and three sheep for a person named Nin-zišagal. The disbursement is dated to the month of the Mekigal festival, in the year the land of Zabšali was destroyed (a Šu-Sin regnal year). The tablet carries the seal of Šu-Kabta, described here as a physician and son of Naram-ili, sealed on his behalf by his scribe Iškur-illat, son of Abia.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sheep, regular offering, (for) Inanna of Zabala; 1 sheep, regular offering, (for) Šara of Umma; 1 kid, (for) the statue of the king; 1 sheep, (for) Malati; 3 sheep, (for) Nin-zišagal; from Ili-bilani — withdrawn (disbursed). Month: "Festival of Mekigal." Year: "The land of Zabšali was destroyed." (Seal legend:) Šu-Kabta, physician (a-zu), 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 48-12-016 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1015
In plain English
This receipt records that 2 ban2 of fine flour and 1 ban2 of second-quality gu-flour were issued to be baked into thick bread, intended for Zabala and for a person named Ama-tahšatal. Antalu was the official responsible for overseeing the transaction. The flour was charged against Šu-Kabta's account and was drawn from the holdings of Iškur-illat before being disbursed. The transaction is dated to the month of the Ninazu festival, in the year 'the great barge was built.' The tablet also bears a seal identifying Šu-Kabta, a physician and son of Naram-ili, and naming Antalu the steward as his servant.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“2 ban2 fine flour, 1 ban2 second-quality gu-flour, for thick bread — at/for Zabala […], (for) Ama-tahšatal; Antalu (is) the responsible official (maškim). Expenditure account of Šu-Kabta, from Iškur-illat it was disbursed. Month: festival of Ninazu. Year: 'The great barge (magur-boat) was built.' (Seal legend:) Šu-Kabta, physician (a-zu), son of Naram-ili; Antalu, steward, 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 48-06-059 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1034
In plain English
This receipt logs small quantities of flour, beer, and dates issued in two rounds for a religious offering associated with a boat — jugs of ordinary dida-beer, portions of coarse and fine flour, and a handful of dates, plus some flour set aside in heaped piles for miscellaneous uses. A further note records specific quantities (2, 2, and a half unit, though these numbers are damaged) allotted for the boat offering itself. The goods were drawn from the account of Iškur-illat, and the transaction was handled — the closing lines are partly broken, but almost certainly read — 'via Puzur-Ninkar, the scribe,' the official who processed and recorded the disbursement.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[n] sila of esza-flour (fine flour), first installment: 1 jug of dida-beer, standard (du) quality, 2 sila of dabin-flour (coarse flour), 1 sila of esza-flour, 1/2 sila of dates; second installment: 3 sila of dabin-flour, 2 sila of esza-flour, 1 sila of dates; flour, heaped in piles, for various (uses). Offering for the boat: 2, 2(?), 1/2(?) [units]. [From] Iškur-illat [it was withdrawn/disbursed], via Puzur-Ninkar, [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 48-06-064 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1035
In plain English
This ledger records food rations issued in connection with wall-building at Garšana. It lists an opening quantity of grain (now broken), then notes that 6 sila of coarse flour and 1 sila of fine flour were delivered as a duplicate record at the outer gate and at the brick-clay gate. A further 2 ban of coarse flour, some thin bread, and beer-mash, along with 1 sila of fine groats for soup, went to the gala-singers and a group of senior women, who consumed it. The entry is tied to a day associated with a person or occasion called Tagribtum, in connection with the wall. Two summary totals close the account, but their figures are lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 ban2 [...] 3 [...] for the wall; 6 sila3 dabin-flour, 1 sila3 esza-flour, (as) counterpart/duplicate, at the outer gate and at the gate of the brick(-clay) [structure], delivered; 2 ban2 dabin-flour, thin bread, dida-mash, 1 sila3 fine groats, for soup, for the gala-singers and the 'ama-gal' (senior women), they consumed (it). Day: Tagribtum, (at) the wall. Total: 5 ban2 [...] Total: [n ...]”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-02-007 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1042
In plain English
Tell Iškur-illat: release 5 gur of barley, 1 ban2 and 2 sila3 of sesame oil, and [a certain amount] of wool. This covers an obligatory delivery — the purchase price owed to Murani (name uncertain) — and it is to be handed over to Ahanišu.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[To] Iškur-illat, speak! 5 gur barley, 1 ban2 2 sila3 sesame oil, [n] mina(s) of wool — the nig2-dab5-obligation, the purchase price of Murani(?) — to Ahanišu let it be given!”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-13-027 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1043
In plain English
A memo to the official Ila-aknuid: give the order. Release 5 gur, 1 barig, 4 ban2 of barley — rations for the work crew — to Šu-Nin-isina; make sure it is handed over to him. The rest of the tablet is broken and illegible.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“Ila-aknuid — speak to him! 5 gur 1 barig 4 ban2 barley, barley rations of the workers, (for) Šu-Nin-isina — let it be given to him. [...] ... [...] ...”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-016 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1085
In plain English
This tablet records that Adallal received one barig of flour, meant as provisions for war captives or seized livestock, handed over by Malik-bani. The transaction is dated to the month of the 'gazelle feast,' in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed (a Šulgi-era military campaign). Adallal is identified as a subordinate of Šu-Kabta, the estate's military overseer at Garšana — a routine bookkeeping entry for rationing supplies tied to that campaign's aftermath.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 barig dabin (flour) — for the provisions (ša₃-gal) of the booty/captives (nam-ra-ak) — from Malik-bani, Adallal received. Month: "maš-da₃-gu₇" (gazelle-feast), Year: "the land of Zabšali was destroyed." Adallal, servant of Šu-Kabta.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-003 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1095
In plain English
One sheep and one lamb were slaughtered. The transaction was handled by the scribe Ea-šar, and the animals were charged out of the account of Ili-bilani. It happened in the month called 'ki-siki-Ninazu,' in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed. The document's seal identifies Šu-Kabta, described here as 'the physician,' son of Naram-ili, as the owner of authority, with the scribe Iškur-illat, son of Abi'a, sealing as his subordinate servant.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 sheep, 1 lamb, slaughtered. Via Ea-šar, the scribe; from Ili-bilani it was disbursed (booked out). Month: 'ki-siki-Ninazu'; year: 'the land of Zabšali was destroyed.' (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