MDP 17, 271

~3000 BCE·Uruk Period·P008469

Translation · reference

Experimental

Source: CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008469.

Translation · AI engine

read from photo

Low confidence

[...], 1 (large unit) M387~ef, [...] [...], 2 (large units) M387~ef M297, 1 (elongated unit) M387~ef M297, 2 (elongated units) 1 (medium unit) M387 M128~de x [...], [...] M057 |M296+M296| M010~2, 3 (elongated units) M387 M057~b M002, 1 (large unit)

8 uncertain terms ↓

M387~ef — A proto-Elamite / proto-cuneiform ideographic sign. Its commodity reference is not definitively deciphered; possibly refers to a category of goods or an institutional entity. The '~ef' variant notation indicates a specific graphical sub-type.
M297 — Undeciphered ideographic sign; appears in combination with M387 suggesting a compound designation, perhaps a subcategory of commodity or a qualifier.
M128~de — Variant of sign M128; commodity or institutional reference unknown. The 'x' following it in the transliteration indicates an unidentified additional sign.
M057 |M296+M296| M010~2 — A compound sign group; |M296+M296| indicates two M296 signs written together as a ligature. The commodity or category this group represents is not established.
N39B — An elongated impressed numerical sign whose commodity-specific metrological value is debated; may indicate area, capacity, or another measure depending on context.
N30C — A large impressed circular numeral; its value in the relevant counting system is context-dependent and not fully resolved for this tablet.
N24 — A medium-order numerical sign; value depends on which metrological system applies to the commodity being counted here.
M387 M057~b# M002 — The '#' after M057~b signals an uncertain reading of that sign in the transliteration. M002 is a common proto-Elamite sign but its semantic content remains undeciphered.

Reasoning ↓

Visual examination of the photograph: The main fragment (upper center, labeled Sb 22433) shows a roughly triangular clay tablet, significantly damaged with breakage along the left and lower edges. The surface preserves impressed numerical signs — clearly visible are multiple circular/semicircular impressions consistent with the N-type numerical system characteristic of proto-Elamite/Uruk-period tablets; clusters of what appear to be large round impressions (N30C type) and elongated impressed signs (consistent with N39B) are discernible in the upper and middle registers. The wedge-pattern signs are present but the resolution and surface erosion make individual commodity signs (M387, M297, M057, etc.) very difficult to confirm visually. The lower fragment shown in the photograph appears to be the reverse or a separate detached piece, largely plain clay with a modern museum accession label. The transliteration aligns with what is visually suggested by the numerical impressions, though the commodity/lexical signs (M-series) cannot be individually verified at this resolution. The fragmentary state and the undeciphered nature of many proto-Elamite signs (M-series) make a confident full translation impossible.

Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · prompt 2026-05-12/v4-interpretation · May 15, 2026 · 1893 in / 1074 out tokens

Why it matters

Transliteration

[...] , 1(N30C)
M387~ef , [...]
[...] , 2(N30C)
M387~ef M297 , 1(N39B)
M387~ef M297 , 2(N39B) 1(N24)
M387 M128~de x [...] , [...]
M057 |M296+M296| M010~2 , 3(N39B)
M387 M057~b# M002 , 1(N30C)

Scholarly note

Catalogue entry from CDLI (Proto-Elamite (ca. 3100-2900 BC)) — MDP 17, 271. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).

Attribution

Image: Louvre Museum, Paris, France (P008469) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. source
Translation excerpted from CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008469..

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