Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-060 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1117
In plain English
This receipt records a withdrawal of supplies — some barley, a quantity of coarse flour, a jar of dida beer, a bit of u2-kur plant, and some dates — taken out of the stores kept by Iškur-illat. The transaction was handled by the scribe Puzur-Ninkar. It happened in the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[n sila3] barley, [n sila3] dabin-flour, [n sila3] jar of du-dida (a beer/malt product), [n] sila3 u2-kur-plant, [n sila3] dates (from the date palm) [from Iškur-illat] it was withdrawn. [Via] Puzur-Ninkar, the scribe. [Month:] 'Festival of Šulgi'. 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 49-11-026 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1128
In plain English
This receipt records a delivery of milled grain products handed over by Malik-bani: 1 barig 1 ban of bran, some amount (broken) plus 2 ban of fine flour, 3 barig 2 ban of crushed flour, and 1 ban of second-quality pea-flour. Adallal, a cook working for Šu-Kabta, took delivery of these goods. The transaction is dated to the month of the Šu-Suen festival, in the year that the land of Zabšali was destroyed — a standard Ur III dating formula. The tablet closes by identifying Adallal as cook and servant (ARAD2) of Šu-Kabta.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 barig 1 ban bran (duḫ). [n] barig 2 ban fine flour (zì sig15). 3 barig 2 ban crushed/ground flour (zì gazₓ[KUM]). 1 ban second-quality gu-flour (zì-gu ús). [From] Malik-bani — Adallal received. Month: 'Festival of Šu-Suen.' Year: 'The land of Zabšali was destroyed.' Adallal, the cook, 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 48-02-008 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1142
In plain English
Sixteen sheep died (or were culled) and were officially removed from the flock account that had been in the charge of Ili-bilani. The entry is dated to the month of the Mekigal festival, in the year the land of Zabšali was destroyed — that is, the seventh year of King Šu-Sin's reign. The document carries the seal of Iškur-illat, a scribe and son of Abi'a, who identifies himself as the servant of Šu-Kabta, son of Naram-ili, described here as a physician (though he appears elsewhere in this archive as a general).
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“16 sheep — slaughtered (deceased/culled) — from Ili-bilani — was withdrawn (booked out). Month: "Festival of Mekigal" (Garšana calendar). Year: "The land of Zabšali was destroyed" (Šu-Sin year 7). [Seal:] Šu-Kabta, physician, son of Naram-ili; Iškur-illat, scribe, son of Abi'a, is his servant.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-09-147 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1147
In plain English
This is a receipt: four barig of emmer wheat were delivered under the supervision of the foreman Lila'a, and a man named Malik-bani signed for (received) the grain. The record is dated to a month whose festival name is now lost, in the year that Zabšali was destroyed — that is, the third regnal year of King Šu-Suen. The commodity description after the wheat amount is broken and cannot be recovered.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 barig emmer wheat — [...] delivery (booked in). Foreman: Lila'a. Malik-bani received it. Month: "Festival of [...]" Year: "The land of Zabšali was destroyed" (Šu-Suen year 3).”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-011 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1160
In plain English
One lamb was taken out of the account belonging to Ili-bilani. This was recorded in the month called 'u5-bi2-gu7,' in the year when the great ceremonial barge was built. The document is sealed in the name of Šu-Kabta, described here as a physician and son of Naram-ili, with the scribe Iškur-illat — son of Abi'a — identifying himself as Šu-Kabta's servant in the seal inscription.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 lamb, from Ili-bilani, was withdrawn (booked out). Month: "u5-bi2-gu7," year: "The great magur-boat was built." (Seal:) 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 49-01-002 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1166
In plain English
This is a short receipt: 3 ban2 of coarse flour, 2 ban2 of fine flour, some dates, and additional fine flour set aside for a mash or porridge preparation. Ur-Ninsuanna signed off on the transaction as the responsible official. It's dated to the month of the Ninazu festival, in the year 'the great barge was caulked.' Attached is a seal notice: Šu-Kabta — here titled 'physician,' son of Naram-ili — is named as the superior, and Ur-Suanna the cupbearer identifies himself as Šu-Kabta's servant, having sealed the document.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 ban2 dabin-flour, 2 ban2 esza-flour, dates, esza-flour for hi-de3 (mash/porridge preparation) — Ur-Ninsuanna was the commissioner (maszkim). Month: "Festival of Ninazu," Year: "The great barge was caulked." [Seal:] Šu-Kabta, physician, son of Naram-ili; Ur-Suanna, cupbearer, is his servant.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-09-151 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1180
In plain English
This receipt records a disbursement of beer: 30 units of one type, plus 2 portions of fine beer and beer-bread at 5 liters each, and 4 more portions of beer-bread at 2 liters each. The goods came from Iškur-illat and were received by a man whose name is partly lost (ending in '-ili'). The transaction is dated to the month called 'U5-bi2-gu7,' in the year the temple of Šara at Umma was destroyed. What follows looks like a seal inscription — mentioning a 'daughter of the king' and closing with the phrase 'your servant,' naming the person who sealed the tablet — but the names involved are too damaged to read fully.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 30 (units of) UD@g-gi beer 2. 2 (units of) fine beer, beer-bread, 5 sila3 each 3. 4 (units of) beer-[bread?], 2 sila3 each 4. from Iškur-illat 5. [...]-ili 6. received 7. month: "U5-bi2-gu7" 8. year: "the temple of Šara of Umma was destroyed" 9. its interior(?) [...] 10. daughter(?) of the king(?) 11. [...]-ili2-[...] 12. your(?) servant [PN]”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-04-004 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1191
In plain English
This tablet records an allotment of livestock: 3 sheep, 1 milk-fed kid, 1 black pig (apparently earmarked for some ritual or statue-related purpose, though the exact term is unclear), and 2 grass-fed sheep. These animals went to Ummi-Kabta, described as a daughter of the household, and were charged out of the account of the official Ili-bilani. The transaction was dated to the month of the Ninazu festival, in the year 'the land of Zabšali was destroyed' — a year-name from the reign of King Šulgi. The cook Adalal, who worked under Šu-Kabta, is named as the one responsible for the disbursement.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 sheep, 1 milk-fed kid, 1 black pig — tak4-alan (uncertain: 'set aside/consigned, for the statue'?), 2 grass-fed sheep — (for) Ummi-Kabta, daughter of the household (dumu-munus e2-a), withdrawn (ba-zi) from Ili-bilani. Month: 'Festival of Ninazu.' Year: 'the land of Zabšali was destroyed.' Adalal, the cook, servant of Šu-Kabta.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry