Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-02-023 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1245
In plain English
This tablet is a receipt: eight grain-fed sheep and one more sheep (details lost) plus another sixteen animals or items (also lost to damage) were handed over by a man named Iškur-illat. Simu, who worked as an animal-fattener, took charge of them. The transaction was dated to the month called 'Harvest' in the year when the priestess En-amgalana was installed. A subtotal of 25 is given, and the record closes by identifying Simu again, this time as a subordinate of Šu-Kabta, the estate's overseer.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“8 sheep, grain-fed; 1 sheep [...]; 16 [x ...]; from Iškur-illat; Simu, the fattener, received (them). Month: "Harvest" (ix); Year: "En-amgalana was installed (as high priestess)" [Amar-Suen year 4]. 25 (total); Simu, the fattener, servant/subordinate 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 49-11-045 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1253
In plain English
The surviving lines record barley rations for the birds, followed by a note about handing something over or exchanging it — the details are broken. The tablet then lists livestock: 6 grain-fed geese and 30 grain-fed doves. Two officials, Dada'a and Šuna-zi, both poultry-herders, are named as responsible for these birds, each tied to a 'house' or household whose name is lost in the break. The rest of the text does not survive.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[...] barley for the bird(s) [...] (in) hand, to be transferred/exchanged [...] 6 grain-fed geese (ir7), 30 grain-fed doves (tu-gur4), Dada'a, the poultry-herder, house of [...] Šuna-zi, the poultry-herder, house of [...]”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-12-046 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1268
In plain English
Three jars of some commodity — the exact contents are lost to damage — were handed over by a man named Iškur-illat. Šu-Iškur, acting as the agent of Iddin-abum, acknowledged receiving them. The transaction is dated to the month of the Mah festival, in the year that the great stele was erected, and the tablet carries the seal of Nu-ub-ra as a record of the exchange.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 jars of ... (sign broken/unclear) [...] from Iškur-illat, Šu-Iškur, the man of Iddin-abum, received. Month: "Festival of Mah" (ezem-mah). Year: "The great stele was fashioned" (mu-du3). Seal of Nu-ub-ra.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-045 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1273
In plain English
This is a delivery receipt: four poplar-wood beams, thirty bundles of reed, and one broad-tailed weir or reed structure — built in doubled fashion and five ninda long — were installed in the orchard at Garšana. The goods came from Iškur-illat, and Akbazum formally acknowledged receiving them. The transaction is dated to the month of the Mekigal festival, in the year that the great stele for the gods Enlil and Ninlil was set up. The record closes by identifying the recipient again: Akbazum, son of Abba.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“4 poplar-wood beams (e2-da), 30 bundles of reed — NE(?), 1 broad-tailed weir(?) (kun-gu2-dagal), doubled (tab-ba), length: 5 ninda, [...]-gu, in the orchard of Garšana, was set up/installed, from Iškur-illat, Akbazum received (it). Month: 'Festival of Mekigal' (ezem-me-ki-gal2). Year: 'The great stele for Enlil and Ninlil was erected' (mu-na-ru2-a-mah en-lil2 nin-lil2-ra mu-ne-du3). Akbazum, son of Abba.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 49-08-012 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1275
In plain English
This is a copy of an accounting record. It lists two quantities of grain — one of 1 gur, 4 barig, 3 ban2, and another of 1 gur, 4 barig, an unclear number of ban2, plus 5 sila3 — though what commodity is being measured is lost in both cases. It also notes 15 items (cut) from poplar wood, each 2 cubits long, and 30 carrying-baskets (dusu) used for construction or earthwork. The month is not preserved, but the year is dated by the formula 'the year the great stele of Enlil and Ninlil was erected' — a year-name from the reign of King Shu-Sin of Ur. A note at the end marks this tablet as a copy of the original document.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 gur 4 barig 3 ban2 [... of ...], 1 gur 4 barig n ban2 5 sila3 [... of ...], 15 [...]-ka, poplar-wood, 2 cubits each, 30 dusu-baskets [...], month: [...], year: "The great stele of Enlil and Ninlil was erected," copy.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-029 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1303
In plain English
This tablet records a delivery: 180 poplar-wood harrows, 180 poplar-wood door-boards, and 130 thin wooden blades or paddles, stacked in a pile. The goods came from a person or place called Suhuški-in and were received by Iškur-illat, with a man named Ikūnum handling the transfer. The transaction is dated to the month of Šueša, in the year King Šu-Sin destroyed the land of Zabšali. The tablet breaks off after this, so any further entries are lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“180 poplar-wood gešur-implements (harrows), 180 poplar-wood e2-da (door-boards/house-boards), 130 eme-sig ("thin-tongue") implements, heaped up (piled), from Suhuški-in, Iškur-illat received; via Ikūnum. Month: Šueša, Year: "the land of Zabšali was destroyed" (Šu-Sin year 7). [...] (text breaks off; remainder lost)”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-011 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1317
In plain English
Seven portions of beer and bread, five liters each, were issued — the record connects them to Šimaški, though the next line naming a recipient is too damaged to read. The entry is dated to 'the year the magur-boat was built.' The tablet ends with a seal notice: Šu-Kabta, called here a physician and son of Naram-ili, is named as the superior, and Ur-Suʾana, a cupbearer, declares himself Šu-Kabta's servant.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“7 (units), beer (and) bread, 5 sila3 each, for Šimaški(?); ...(broken personal name/phrase)...; year: “the magur-boat was built” (occasion); Šu-Kabta, physician, son of Naram-ili; Ur-Suʾana, 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 48-06-009 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1321
In plain English
Eighty bundles of reeds were issued for smoking fish black (curing them over smoke). Šu-Erra acted as the responsible official (commissioner) for the transaction, which took place in the Umma district. The expenditure was charged to Šu-Dada's account and drawn from the holdings of Iškur-illat. The transaction is dated to the month of the Ninazu festival. It was recorded by Šu-Kabta, here called 'the physician,' and written down by the scribe Šu-Erra, who signs himself 'your servant.'
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1(gesz2) 2(u) [=80] bundles of reed(-torches), for smoking fish black. Šu-Erra was the commissioner (maškim). Within Umma: booked expenditure (zi-ga) of Šu-Dada, from Iškur-illat it was withdrawn (ba-zi). Month: 'Festival of Ninazu.' Šu-Kabta, the physician(?); Šu-Erra, the scribe, your servant.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry