Chapter 04 · 2112 – 2004 BCE
Ur III · Neo-Sumerian
A bureaucratic golden age, the Code of Ur-Nammu.
~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-010 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1330
In plain English
This receipt records an issue of beer and bread — two liters (2 sila3) of each — meant for beer supplies of [a broken entry]. Tahulam, acting as the responsible overseer, signed off on the transaction, and the goods were duly withdrawn from stores. The record is dated to the month of the Šulgi festival, in the year when 'the great magur-boat was caulked.' The tablet was sealed by Tahulam, who identifies himself as a servant of Šu-Kabta, the estate's governing official.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“[n] beer (and) bread, at 2 sila3 each, for the beer of [...], Tahulam (was) the responsible official (maškim); it was withdrawn/expended. Month: "Festival of Šulgi." Year: "The great magur-boat was caulked." (Seal:) Tahulam, 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 48-02-026 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1369
In plain English
One boat with a capacity of 60 gur has been destroyed. Its bitumen coating is written off as lost, and it no longer has its towline. The loss is charged against the account of Iškur-illat and formally struck from the books, processed by Ibni-Iškur the scribe. Dated to the month of the Meki-gal festival, in the year the en-priestess of Inanna of Uruk was chosen by omen (Šu-Suen's first year). Signed: Ibni-Iškur, scribe, son of Libur-ili.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 boat, (capacity) 60 gur — was destroyed (damaged/lost). Its bitumen was recorded as lost (missing); its towline/rigging does not exist (is not present). From (the account of) Iškur-illat it was withdrawn (written off). Conveyed by Ibni-Iškur, the scribe. Month: 'Festival of Meki-gal.' Year: 'The en-priestess of Inanna of Uruk was chosen by the goat (omen).' Ibni-Iškur, scribe, son of Libur-ili.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-043 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1378
In plain English
Sixty two-ply gazi-fiber ropes, each one and a half ninda long, together with eighty bundles or lengths of reed cord, were issued for the storehouse known as Ekibagara. The goods were assigned to a man named Dada. The scribe Puzur-Ninkarak handled the transaction, and the materials were charged out of the account of Iškur-illat.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1. 1(geš2) [=60] gazi-ropes, plied a second time (two-ply), doubled, length: 1 1/2 ninda each; 2. 1(geš2) 2(u) [=80] reed-cords/reed bundles, NE(?); 3. (for) the storehouse E-kibagara; 4. was assigned/placed to Dada; 5. via Puzur-Ninkarak, the scribe; 6. [from] Iškur-illat it was withdrawn.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-04-011 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1389
In plain English
The beginning of this receipt or account is destroyed — only a trace of a quantity and a personal name survive, followed by several fully broken lines. The record is dated to the month called u5-bi2-gu7, in the year 'the great barge of Enlil and Ninlil was built' — that is, the second year of King Šu-Suen. The document is associated with Šu-Kabta, described here as a physician (though elsewhere at Garšana he holds the title 'general'), son of Naram-ili, and was written or authenticated by the scribe Iškur-illat, son of Abi'a, who names himself as Šu-Kabta's subordinate.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 (unit) [PN]-na? [...] [...] [...] [...]-uš (broken) Month: u5-bi2-gu7. Year: 'The great barge of Enlil (and) Ninlil was built for them.' Šu-Kabta, physician, son of Naram-ili. Iškur-illat, scribe, son of Abi'a, is your/his servant.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · CUNES 48-06-012 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1398
In plain English
This tablet notes that on one bur3 of farmland, the straw has been gathered into doubled sheaves but has not yet been threshed. The record bears the seal of Šarrum-ili. Ili-andul is responsible for delivering it — the same Ili-andul, son of Warad-ebum, who served as the scribe who wrote this docket.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1 bur3 of field: doubled sheaves of straw, not (yet) threshed. Sealed by Šarrum-ili. Ili-andul is to deliver (it) — Ili-andul, son of Warad-ebum, 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 49-04-025 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1399
In plain English
The tablet records several quantities — 3 ban2 of something, 1 gur 2 barig 2 ban2 of something else, 150 units of a third item, and 4 talents (or bales) of a fourth — but in every case the description of what was measured has broken off. The record closes by naming the person responsible: Šu-Erra, son of Ili-ani, who worked under (as a subordinate of) Šu-Kabta, the well-known official at Garšana. Essentially this is an accounting entry whose totals survive but whose specific goods are lost.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“3 ban2 [of ... (broken)] 1 gur 2 barig 2 ban2 [of ... (broken)] 150 [... (broken)] 4 talents (gu2) [of ... (broken)] Šu-Erra, son of Ili-ani, 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 49-08-019 — Department of Near Eastern Studies, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
CUSAS 03, 1510
In plain English
This record notes that 6 sar of brick clay was transferred from Nisaba-andul to a man named Pušk-in, apparently under some daily rate or repayment schedule ('6 each per day'). The text then lists quantities of malt, though the amounts are lost. A closing date or oath formula ('year: ...') is broken away, followed by a list of witnesses — at least four men, including one named Iškur-bani — whose names confirm the transaction. The tablet ends with the standard legal closing line: 'they are its witnesses.'
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“6 sar of brick clay (im sig4), from Nisaba-andul(-ta), Pušk-in [received/borrowed it]. Per day, 6 [units] each, malt [......] malt [......] year: [......] before [......], before ...-[......], before Šu-[......], before Iškur-bani. They are its witnesses.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · low confidence
Read the full tablet entry~2050 BCE · OIM A31210 — Oriental Institute, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Fs Leichty 504
In plain English
This record notes that Tišatal, a provincial governor, and a work crew of eighty men — identified as coming from Ninua — took a formal oath at (or concerning) the temple of Ninurta. The transaction was handled through the official Bazaza, son of Bušama. It is dated to the 28th day of the month Gan-gan-e3, in the year that Šimanum was destroyed.
AI-generated reading paraphrase; compare with the translation below.
“1: Tišatal, the governor; 80 workmen — they are men of Ninua. (In) the [temple of Nin]urta, they swore an oath. Via Bazaza, son of Bušama. Month: Gan-gan-e3, day 28 having passed. Year: Šimanum was destroyed.”
Source: engine:claude-sonnet-5 (2026-07-12/v7-evolved) · claude-sonnet-5 · medium confidence
Read the full tablet entry