MDP 17, 040

~3000 BCE·Uruk Period·P008238

Translation · reference

Experimental

Source: CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008238.

Translation · AI engine

read from photo

Low confidence

M105~a : 1(N34) 4(N14) M385~f[?] : 1(N34) 4(N14)[?] M254~c : 1(N34) 4(N14) [sign unclear] : 1(N34) 4(N14) |M377+M377| M054[?] : 2(N34) 2(N14) [sign unclear] M260~1 : 1(N34) 4(N14)[?] [sign unclear] : 1(N34) 4(N14) [sign unclear] : 1(N34) 4(N14) M304[?] : 1(N34) 5(N14) M365 : 1(N34) 4(N14) M324~f : 1(N34) 4(N14)

5 uncertain terms ↓

N34 — High-order numeral in proto-cuneiform; its absolute value depends on which metrological system (sexagesimal, bisexagesimal, etc.) applies to the commodity in question — cannot be converted to a precise modern number without fuller context.
N14 — Represents a higher-order unit, conventionally 10× N01 in most Uruk-period sexagesimal contexts, but value varies by commodity and system.
M105~a, M385~f, M254~c, M304, M365, M324~f, M377, M054, M260~1 — Proto-cuneiform commodity/category signs identified by CDLI M-number codes. The precise referents of most of these signs remain uncertain or contested in scholarship; they likely denote categories of goods, animals, or institutional roles but cannot be translated into specific English words with confidence.
|M377+M377| — A compound sign formed by repeating M377; such reduplication in proto-cuneiform sometimes indicates plurality or a related but distinct category. Meaning uncertain.
x (unnamed signs) — Several entries have commodity signs listed only as 'x' in the transliteration, meaning they were unreadable or unidentified by the editing scholar, corresponding to damaged or eroded areas on the tablet surface.

Reasoning ↓

Visually, the tablet (Sb 22235) is shown in multiple views — obverse, reverse, and edges. The surface is cracked and heavily worn, with several deep fissures crossing both faces. On the obverse (upper central image), circular impressed numerals are clearly visible in clusters — groups of smaller round impressions (N14) and at least one larger impressed sign (N34) — consistent with the transliteration's repeated '1(N34) 4(N14)' pattern. Some sign-groups in the upper left of the obverse show linear wedge-like impressions that could correspond to the commodity signs (M105~a, M254~c, etc.), but the resolution and surface erosion make individual sign identification unreliable from the photo alone. On the reverse (lower image), further clusters of circular impressions are visible alongside what appear to be additional commodity signs, again consistent with the transliteration's second half. The repeated numerical formula across nearly all entries (1(N34) 4(N14)) is visually plausible given the uniformity of the impressed dot-clusters visible on both faces. Signs marked with '#' in the transliteration (damaged/uncertain) correspond to areas of the tablet that show visible cracking or surface loss in the photo. Because the proto-cuneiform commodity signs (M-numbers) are not yet fully deciphered and the photo resolution does not permit precise sign-by-sign verification, confidence is rated low. No standard anglicised royal names or divine names are relevant here.

Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · prompt 2026-05-12/v4-interpretation · May 15, 2026 · 1866 in / 1127 out tokens

Why it matters

Transliteration

M105~a , 1(N34) 4(N14)
M385~f# , 1(N34) 4(N14)#
M254~c , 1(N34) 4(N14)
x , 1(N34) 4(N14)
|M377+M377| M054#? , 2(N34) 2(N14)
x M260~1 , 1(N34) 4(N14)#
x , 1(N34) 4(N14)
x , 1(N34) 4(N14)
M304# , 1(N34) 5(N14)
M365 , 1(N34) 4(N14)
M324~f , 1(N34) 4(N14)

Scholarly note

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Proto-Elamite (ca. 3100-2900 BC)) — MDP 17, 040. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Attribution

Image: Louvre Museum, Paris, France (P008238) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. source
Translation excerpted from CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008238..

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