MDP 06, 286

~3000 BCE·Uruk Period·P008078

Translation · reference

Experimental

Source: CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008078.

Translation · AI engine

read from photo

Low confidence

[Heading/category sign M157], [x] [...] , [...] [...] x [...] , [...] [...] x , 2 (large units)#? [M327+M059]#? , 2 (large units) [...] [M327+X] , 2 (large units) 2 (small units)# [...] [M106+M288] [M218] [M073~a] , 1 (large unit) 7 (small units) x [M110~a]# [M371] , 8 (small units)# [M057+M291] [M352~o] [M004] , 3 (large units) x [M250~ba]# [M218]# , 1 (large unit) 2 (small units)#? [...] , 7 (small units) [M365] , 1 (large unit) x x , 1 (large unit) [M218] [...] , [...] 4 (highest-order units)# 2 (small units)

7 uncertain terms ↓

M157 — Heading or category sign whose commodity reference is not established for Susa proto-cuneiform; may denote an institutional category, animal type, or product class.
N14 / N01 — The relative values of these numerical signs depend on the metrological system in use for the commodity counted. N14 is conventionally 10× N01 in sexagesimal counting but can equal 6× in bisexagesimal systems used for certain goods such as grain or livestock.
N34 — A still higher-order impressed numeral whose precise quantitative value cannot be fixed without knowing the full metrological context of this tablet.
M218 — Functions as a subtotal or section-divider in comparable proto-cuneiform texts, but this interpretation is inferred from Uruk parallels and is not independently confirmed for Susa.
M327+M059 / M327+X — Compound signs; the second element of the second compound is unreadable ('X'), making commodity identification impossible.
M250~ba — The '~ba' variant and its reading are uncertain; '#' in the transliteration signals that even the sign identification is tentative.
M106+M288 — Compound sign; M288 recurs as a qualifier or commodity determinative in proto-cuneiform but its exact semantic value is not established.

Reasoning ↓

Visual examination of the photograph (upper tablet, museum number Sb 15130): the obverse surface is heavily cracked, with several deep fissures running diagonally across the face. The clay is a pale buff colour. In the upper register, impressed wedge clusters consistent with proto-cuneiform signs are visible, though individual sign identifications are very difficult at this resolution because the wedges are shallow and erosion has softened edges. Rows of impressed numerals — circular and wedge-shaped impressions — are visible in roughly the right half of the tablet, consistent with the N01/N14 numerical signs in the transliteration. The lower image appears to be the reverse of the same tablet, which is almost entirely uninscribed or too eroded to carry readable sign impressions. The left edge carries the museum label 'Sb 15130'. The museum number '286' in red ink on the edge fragment in the middle of the photograph matches the MDP 06, 286 catalogue reference. Overall the photo confirms the general layout (signs on the left, numerals on the right in columnar rows) and the damaged state described by the transliteration's heavy use of brackets and '#' uncertainty markers, but individual sign readings beyond the numerical impressions cannot be independently verified at this resolution. The transliteration is drawn from the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI) record P008078 for this Uruk-period Susa administrative tablet.

Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · prompt 2026-05-12/v4-interpretation · May 15, 2026 · 2451 in / 1146 out tokens

Why it matters

Transliteration

M157 ,
x [...] , [...]
[...] x [...] , [...]
[...] x , 2(N14)#?
|M327+M059|#? , 2(N14) [...]
|M327+X| , 2(N14) 2(N01)#
[...] |M106+M288| M218 M073~a , 1(N14)# 7(N01)
x M110~a# M371 , 8(N01)#
|M057+M291| M352~o M004 , 3(N14)
x M250~ba# M218# , 1(N14) 2(N01)#?
[...] , 7(N01)
M365 , 1(N14)
x x , 1(N14)
M218
[...] , [...] 4(N34)# 2(N01)

Scholarly note

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Proto-Elamite (ca. 3100-2900 BC)) — MDP 06, 286. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Attribution

Image: Louvre Museum, Paris, France (P008078) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. source
Translation excerpted from CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008078..

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