Position in chronology
Berens 061
Translation · reference
ExperimentalSource: CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P105772.
Why it matters
Transliteration
4(disz) tug2 nig2-lam2 3(disz)-kam us2 ki-la2-bi 8(disz) 1/3(disz) ma-na 5(disz) gin2 3(disz) tug2 nig2-lam2 4(disz)-kam us2 ki-la2-bi 6(disz) ma-na iti munu4-gu7 mu i-bi2-suen lugal
Scholarly note
Catalogue entry from CDLI (Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)) — Berens 061. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format). [year-name] Dated to Ibbi-Suen y1 — Ibbi-Suen became king based on canonical year-name formula in the transliteration.
Attribution
Image: Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, Ireland (P105772) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. source
Translation excerpted from CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P105772..
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Related sources
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Marks the boundary between proto-writing and writing. We can see signs being used systematically — but not yet phonetically. The leap to recording speech itself comes a few centuries later.
The earliest historical document in human history. Before this, we have lists, accounts, and dedications. Here, for the first time, a ruler tells us what happened — with names, places, and consequences.