Nine Unpublished Texts in the Collection of the British Museum

CDLB 2017:1

Cuneiform Digital Library Bulletin (ISSN: 1540-8760)

Published on 2017-08-19

© Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative

Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License except when noted otherwise and in the case of artifact images which follow the CDLI terms of use.

§1. Introduction[1]
§1.1.
The nine tablets published herewith are a part of a broader project entitled, “The Mathematical Knowledge During the III Dynasty of Ur in the Light of Administrative Records,” sponsored by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. Within the framework of this project, a research trip to the British Museum was undertaken, with the aim of identifying new material. The idea of the author was, at the beginning, to include these documents in a volume at the end of the project but, for various reasons, the project has been interrupted. In any case, the author hopes that an edition of new texts can be of use to his colleagues.

 

§2. Catalogue

No. BM Number Date Provenience Content
1. BM 12562 [–/–/–] unknown Fragment; the text records measurements of agricultural fields.
2. BM 19683 AS 3/–/– Girsu The fragment of the right upper part is divided into two columns and records works for building levees.
3. BM 19997 [–/–/–] unknown Text recording the field area and the number of trees in some orchards.
4. BM 23029 Š 45/x/– Girsu Receipt for a barley loan (še ur5-ra) from Ur-NI received by Ur-niĝar; seal of Atu.
5. BM 23092 Š 46/x/– Girsu Sealed envelope of a receipt for a barley loan (še ur5-ra) from the warehouse of Ninḫursaĝ from Bazi; seal of Namḫani.
6. BM 102106 AS 1/–/– Girsu Balanced account of barley to sow some agricultural field parcels.
7. BM 106079 AS 6/–/– Umma Text recording maintenance work on agricultural fields; seal of Nimgir-ane, scribe, son of Inim-Šara.
8. BM 106101 undated Umma Text recording the quantity of earth to build the mud wall of Niĝ-lagar’s house (im-du8-a e2 niĝ2-lagar-ka).
9. BM 106102 Š 42/–/– Umma Works inspection in some fields in the Kamari area; seal of Lugal-niĝ-lagare, scribe, son of Dada.

 

§3. Texts
§3.1.  BM 12562

Measurements: 3.1×2.4×2.4
Provenience: unknown
Date: –/–/–

 

§3.1.1.Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
Column 1
  1. [...] ki ...
  2. [...] 5(iku) GAN2 ... 5 iku field area;
  3. [...] x [...] ...
    rest broken
Column 2
  1. [...] ˹4(iku)? GAN2? ˺ [...] ...
  2. 1(eše3) 4(iku) GAN2 x [...] 1 eše3 4 iku field area ...
  3. 1(eše3) GAN2 [...] 1 eše3 field area ...
  4. 5(iku) GAN2 x [...] 5 iku field area ...
  5. [...] ˹GAN2?˺ ... field area ...
    rest broken
Reverse
    broken

 

§3.2.  BM 19683
Measurements: 4.2×3.6×2.3
Provenience: Girsu
Date: AS 3/–/–

 

§3.2.1.Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
Column 1
  1. a2-pa5 na-ba-sa2-ta From the side of the Nabasacanal:
  2. 1.30 ninda gid2 1 kuš3 dagal 1 kuš3 sukud 90 ninda the length, 1 cubit the width, 1 cubit the height,
  3. a-ša3 7 1/2 sar the volume 7 1/2 sar;
  4. ˹1.00 ninda˺ gid2 1 kuš3 dagal 2 kuš3 sukud 60 ninda the length, 1 cubit the width, 2 cubits the height,
  5. a-ša3 20 sar the volume: 20 sar;
  6. a-pi4-sal4 x [...] Apisal ...;
  rest broken
Column 2
  1. 20 [...] 20 ...
  2. a-ša3 [...] the volume ...
  3. 12 x [...] 12 ...
  4. a [...] ...
  5. ˹a ˺ [...] ...
  rest broken
Reverse
Column 1
  beginning broken
  1'. [...] ...
  2'. n [...] n ...
  3'. n [...] n ...
  4'. a2 [...-ta] from the side of ...
Column 2
  beginning broken
  1'. 55 ninda gid2 ˹1 kuš3˺ [dagal] 1 kuš3 ˹sukud˺ 55 ninda the length, 1 cubit the width, 1 cubit the height;
  2'. a-ša3 4 1/2 sar 5 gin2 the volume 4 1/2 sar, 5 shekels.
  3'. e a-ša3 pirig-tur-gin7-DU-še3 For a levee in the field Pirigtur-gin-DU.
  blank space
  4'. šuniĝin 8.50 ninda gid2 Total: 530 ninda the length.
  5'. šuniĝin 1.58 1/2 sar kin sahar ˹u3˺ u2-sag11 Total: 118 1/2 sar the activity for earthwork and reed bundle for barges.
  6'. e a-ša3 lugal-mussasa2 gaba a-geštin-na-ka The levee of the Lugal-mussa field that is in front of A-geštin field.
  7'. e ki-sumun-na gid2-da has been measured up to the levee of a plot with poor soil?;
  8'. ugula sanga ddumu-zi u3 sanga dnin-DAR-a the foremen (are) the chief adminstrator of (the temple of) Dumuzi and the chief administrator of (the temple of) Nin-DARa.
Left Edge
  1. mu gu-za den-lil2-la2 ba-[dim2] Year: The throne of Enlil was fashioned.

 

§3.2.2. The text, even if it is considerably broken, records, in the preserved part of the obverse, the earth to be removed from the side of the Nabasa canal, by measuring its length, width and height and calculating the total volume. The expression “a2-pa5” (obv. i 1) never appears in the texts of Ur III, but the meaning is clear. Parallel texts, recording work to be done on canals and recording the length, width, and height are RTC 412 (Girsu, AS 3/-/-) and ASJ 13, 225 71 (Girsu, undated). In the preserved part of the reverse, length, width, and height are recorded, together with the calculation of volume, for the construction of a levee in a field whose name is damaged. Moreover, the total sum of earth and reeds[2] to be used for building a levee in the field Lugal-mussa located in front of the field A-geštin is recorded. In the lower edge, the expression ki sumun has an unknown meaning; K. Maekawa (1992: 198) suggests that it could mean “plots with poor soil.” The expression is attested about fifty times, and it is documented in almost all cases in Girsu, although there are other attestations from Garšana (CUSAS 3, 1362; IS 2/i/–), Irisagrig (Nisaba 15/2, 462; ŠS 8/–/–), Umma (PPAC 5, 1646; date broken) and Ur (UET 3, 1367; ŠS 9/x/–).

 

§3.3.  BM 19997
Measurements: 11×7.2×3.2
Provenience: unknown
Date: –/–/–

 

§3.3.1. Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
Column 1
  1. 1(iku) 1/4 (iku) GAN2 ĝeškiri6 1 1/4 iku the surface (of the) orchard;
  2. 2.20 ĝešĝešnimbar (there are) 140 date palms;
  3. ug3-IL2 nu-ĝeškiri6 UgIL the (responsible) orchardist;
  4. a-ru-a lu2-dnanna dumu ur-ur ex-voto of Lu-Nanna son of Ur-ur;
  5. ugula ab-ba-gu-la the foreman Abba-gula.
  6. 2(iku) 1/2(iku) GAN2 ka-a-DU 2 1/2 iku the surface (of the) irrigation-inlet-plot;
  7. 3(iku) 1/2(iku) GAN2 ki-ĝal2 3 1/2 iku the surface (of) uncultivated land;
  8. 3.53 ĝešĝešnimbar 233 date palms
  9. 1.00 ĝešĝešnimbar u2 du11-ga 60 date palms (which have been) cut down;
  10. 25.43 <ḪAR>-lam ĝešu3-suḫ5 1543 “ḪARlam” objects of pine trees;
  11. 7.10 ḪAR ĝešḫašḫur 430 “ḪAR” objects of apple trees;
  12. 12 ḪAR ĝešpeš3 12 “ḪAR” objects of pear trees;
  13. <...> ḪAR ĝešše-du10 gid2 ... “ḪAR” objects of long junipers;
  14. 20 la2 2 ĝešmes gid2 18 “ḪAR” objects of long boxwood trees;
  15. 7 ĝešgiparx(PAR4) 7 mulberry trees;
  16. 15 ḪAR ĝeššinig gid2 15 “ḪAR” objects of long tamarisk;
  17. nimgir-KA-gi-na (the responsible gardener:) Nimgir-KAgina;
  18. ĝeškiri6 amar-sun2-zi-da orchard (of) Amar-sunzida.
  19. 10 sar GAN2 ĝešĝešnimbar 10 sar the surface of date palms;
  20. 16 ĝešĝešnimbar (there are) 16 date palms;
  21. lu2-KA-ni gu-za-la2 (responsible is) LuKAni, the throne-bearer;
  22. ĝeškiri6 a-diri e2-he2-ĝal2 unu3 orchard Adiri (of) E-heĝal, the herdsman;
  23. ˹ugula?˺ den-lil2-la2 the foreman(?) Enlila;
Column 2
  Almost totally blank. The number 8 (OB form) is written in the lower part. The number 3 is written in the center.
Reverse
  blank space

 

§3.3.2. The text records the sizes of gardens and the number of their trees, although formulations at the end of the text (ĝeškiri6 gid2-da, ĝeš šid-da) are missing. It records the extent, composition, and presence of trees in two orchards, probably designated by the name of a person; for one in particular it is specified that he is a herdsman (unu3). The first orchard is divided into two parcels, each under the responsibility of an orchardist: UgIL and Nimgir-KAgina. The parcel under the responsibility of UgIL measures 4,500 m2 of land cultivated as a date palm grove with 140 date palms. The land is defined as ex-voto of Lu-Nanna, son of Ur-ur, under the supervision of Abba-gula, whose title is not specified (possibly a šandana). The second, larger parcel consists of 9,000 m2 of land defined as an “irrigation-inlet-plot” (ka-a-DU; see Greco 2015: 23) and 9,000 m2 of uncultivated land. In this parcel, under the responsibility of the orchardist Nimgir-KAgina, there are 233 (standing) date palms, 60 date palms which are already cut down (u2 du11-ga; see Attinger 1993: 733), 1543 objects <ḪAR>-lam[3] related to pine trees (ĝešu3-suh5), 430 objects ḪAR linked to apple trees (ĝešhašhur), 12 objects ḪAR related to pear trees (ĝešpeš3), an unspecified number of objects ḪAR linked with junipers, 18 box trees (both qualified as “long,” gid2), seven trees called ĝešgiparx (perhaps mulberry trees), 15 objects ḪAR linked to tamarisk, also qualified as being long. The second orchard, whose dimensions are below the average, measures 360 m2, with 16 date palms, is attributed to the responsibility of the throne-bearer Lu-KAni. The mention of the orchard is probably followed by an indication of the supervisor, Enlila, who could be a “šandana” of the city Nigin (in older literature Nina).

 

§3.4.  BM 23029
Measurements: 11×7.2×3.2
Provenience: Girsu
Date: –/–/–

 

§3.4.1. Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
  1. 2;0.4 še gur lugal 2 gur 4 ban2 barley, (measured in) royal (gur)
  blank space
  2. še ur5-ra-še3 as a barley loan
  3. ki ur-NI-ta from UrNI,
Reverse
  1. ur-˹niĝar˺ Ur-niĝar
  2. ˹šu ba˺-ti has received;
  3. [kišib3] a-tu sealed by Atu;
  blank space
  4. iti amar-a-a-si month: “Amara’si,”
  5. mu ur-bi2-lumki ba-ḫul year: “Urbilum was destroyed.”

 

§3.4.2. This simple text records a barley loan.[4] The name Ur-NI is very rare in Girsu;[5] it is documented only five times and never in connection with loans.

 

§3.5.  BM 23092
Measurements: 4×3.4×2.4
Provenience: Girsu
Date: Š 46/x/

 

§3.5.1. Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
  1. 13;4.0 še gur lugal 13 gur 4 barig of barley, (measured in) royal (gur),
  2. še ur5-ra engar nu-banda3-< gu4> barley loan for the plowmen of the oxen overseer
  seal impression
  3. i3-dub dnin-ḫur-saĝ-ta from the warehouse of Ninhursaĝ,
  4. ki ba-zi-ta from Bazi,
  5. mu ma-an-šum2-<še3> instead of Manšum
Reverse
  1. kišib3 nam-ḫa-ni sealed by Namḫani,
  2. šeš-a-na his brother;
  3. e2 nam-ḫa-ni household of Namḫani;
  seal impression
  4. iti amar-a-a-si month: “Amara’si,”
  5. mu ki-maški ba-ḫul year: “Kimaš was destroyed.”
Seal
  1. nam-[ḫa-ni] Namḫani,
  2. dub-[sar] scribe,
  3. [...] ...

 

§3.5.2. The text records a barley loan to plowmen of an oxen overseer from the warehouse of Ninḫursaĝ. Barley loans from this warehouse are documented in Nisaba 13, 39, MVN 12, 239, and Nisaba 10, 68, dated to Š 47/x/–; these three documents support the addition of “gu4” in obv. 2. The barley loan documented in Nisaba 10, 68, comes from Bazi as well.

 

§3.6.  BM 102106
Measurements: 4×3.4×2.4
Provenience: Girsu
Date: Š 46/x/

 

§3.6.1. Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
  1. ˹19˺;3.1 še gur lugal 19 gur 3 barig 1 ban2 barley, (according to the) royal (measure),
  2. ki ur-dda-mu-ta from Ur-Damu;
  3. 21;2.4 ki ur-dlamma dumu lu2-dsuen-ta 21 gur 2 barig 4 ban2 from Ur-Lamma, son of Lu-Suen;
  blank space
  4. šuniĝin 41;0.5 še! gur total: 41 gur 5 ban2 barley;
  5. ša3-bi-ta therefrom:
  6. 6(bur3) 1(eše3) 5(iku) GAN2 1;2.3-ta 6 bur3 1 eše3 5 iku field area (sowed with) 1 gur 2 barig 3 ban2 each (bur3);
  7. 3(bur3) 1(eše3) 3(iku) 1/4(iku) GAN2 1;3.1 5 sila3-ta 3 bur3 1 eše3 3 1/4 iku field area (sowed with) 1 gur 3 barig 1 ban2 5 sila3 each (bur3);
  8. 1(bur’u) 2(bur3) 2(eše3) 3(iku) GAN2 1;4.0-ta 1 bur’u, 2 bur3 2 eše3 3 iku field area (sowed with) 1 gur 4 barig each (bur3).
  9. še-bi 38;4.0 4 1/3 sila3 gur the barley: 38 gur 4 barig 4 1/3 sila;
  10. mu-kux(DU) delivery;
Reverse
  1. lu2-x-[...] x Lu-...,
  2. da-da [dumu ur]-˹gu˺-la Dada, son of Ur-gula;
  blank space
  3. a-ša3-maḫ Great Field;
  4. nig2-ka9-ak balanced account,
  blank space
  5. mu damar-dsuen lugal year: “Amar-Suen is king.”

 

§3.6.2. The obverse of the tablet records a delivery (mu-kux) of barley to be used for sowing fields of various sizes. The indication on the origin of the text is given by Ur-Lamma son Lu-Suen who is only known in Girsu. In lines 6-8 of the obverse, the scribe recorded the quantities of barley for each “bur3” to be used for sowing the fields: the total sum of these three barley amounts is 38;4.0.4 1/3 sila3 2 1/2 gin2, in the “še-bi” entry in line 9 rounded to 38.4.0.4 1/3 sila3. The reverse of the tablet is partially broken, but the final colophon records that it is a “balanced account” (nig2-ka9-ak) related to the “great field” (a-ša3-maḫ).

 

§3.7.  BM 106079
Measurements: 12.1×8.2×2.4
Provenience: Umma
Date: AS 6/–/–

 

§3.7.1. Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
Column 1
  1. ˹2(bur3) 1(iku) 1/2(iku) GAN2˺ ĝeš-˹ur3˺-[ra] a-ra2 1 4(iku) 1/2(iku) GAN2-[ta] 2 bur3 1 iku 1/2 iku field area harrowing, 1 time, at 4 1/2 iku (a day),
  2. a2 eren2-na-bi u4 25 its workers’ labor: 25 days;
  3. 1/2(iku) 1/4(iku) GAN2 tug2-sagx(ŠE.KIN) 1/4(iku) GAN2-ta 3/4 iku field area of tug-sag work at 1/4 iku (a day),
  4. a2 eren2-na-bi u4 3 its workers’ labor: 3 days;
  5. ˹iti˺ dal month: “Flight;”
  6. 1(bur’u) 1(bur3) 1(eše3) 3(iku) GAN2 ĝeš-[ur3]-ra a-ra2 2 1(eše3) GAN2-[ta] 1 bur’u 1 bur3 1 eše3 3 iku field area harrowing, 2 times, at 1 eše3 (a day),
  7. ˹a2 eren2-na-bi u4˺ 3.27 its workers’ labor: 207 days;
  8. 3(bur3) 2(iku) 1/2(iku) GAN2 ĝeš-˹ur3-ra˺ a-ra2 3 1(eše3) GAN2-ta 3 bur3 2 1/2 iku harrowing, 3 times, at 1 eše3 field area (a day),
  9. a2 eren2-na-bi u4 1.24 2/3 its workers’ labor: 84 2/3 days;
  blank space
  10. a2 ĝeš-ur3-ra labor of harrowing;
  11. 19.33 sar al 6 sar-[ta] 1173 sar of hoeing, at 6 sar (a day),
  12. ˹a2˺-bi u4 3.15 1/2 its labor: 195 1/2 days;
  13. 12.45 sar al 30 sar-ta 765 sar of hoeing, at 30 sar (a day);
  14. a2-bi u4 25 1/2 its labor: 25 1/2 days;
  15. 30.20 sar u2kiši17 ku5 -ra2? 2(u) sar-ta 1820 sar acacia cut at 20 sar (a day),
Column 2
  1. [a2-bi u4 1.31] its labor: 91 days;
  2. 10.00 [... sar-ta] 600+ at n sar (a day),
  3. a2-[bi u4 ...] its labor: n days;
  4. 17.40 [... sar-ta] 1060+ at n sar (a day),
  5. a2-bi u4 1.20 [...] its labor: 80+ days;
  6. 4.30 sar u2kiši17 10 sar-ta 270 sar: acacia at 10 sar (a day);
  7. a2-bi u4 27 its labor: 27 days;
  8. 1.03 sar u2kiši17 x 7 sar-ta 63 sar acacia at 7 sar (a day);
  9. a2-bi u4 10 la2 1 its labor: 9 days.
  10. 12.22 1/2 sar al 15 sar-ta 742 1/2 sar of hoeing at 15 sar (a day),
  11. a2-bi u4 49 1/2 its labor: 49 1/2 days;
  12. 20 sar nig2-gul 10 sar-ta 20 sar of pickaxing at 10 sar (a day),
  13. a2-bi u4 2 its labor: 2 days;
  14. 7.07 sar al 7 sar-ta 427 sar of hoeing at 7 sar (a day),
  15. a2-bi u4 1.01 its labor: 61 days;
  16. 10.28 1/3 sar al 6 1/2 sar-ta 628 1/3 sar at 6 1/2 sar (a day),
Reverse
Column 1
  1. [a2]-bi u4 1.36 2/3 its labor: 96 2/3 days;
  2. 38 1/2 sar al 5 1/2 [sar-ta] 38 1/2 sar of hoeing at 5 1/2 sar (a day),
  3. a2-bi u4 7 its labor: 7 days;
  4. 4.52 1/2 sar al 5 ˹sar˺-[ta] 292 1/2 sar of hoeing at 5 sar (a day),
  5. a2-bi u4 58 1/2 its labor: 58 1/2 days;
  6. 8 sar al 4 sar-ta 8 sar of hoeing at 4 sar (a day),
  7. a2-bi u4 2 its labor: 2 days;
  8. a2 lu2 huĝ-ĝa2 6 sila3-ta work of hirelings at 6 sila3 (a day);
  9. 25 sar al 5 sar-ta 25 sar of hoeing at 5 sar (a day),
  10. a2-bi u4 5 its labor: 5 days;
  11. 3.20 sar [al ...] 20 sar-ta 200 sar of hoeing at 20 sar (a day),
  12. a2-bi u4 10 its labor: 10 days;
  13. a2 ša3-gu4-ka labor of oxen drivers;
  seal impression
Column 2
  seal impression
  1. a-ša3-ge kin-ak field work done
  2. a-ša3 ka-ma-ri2 (in the) field of Kamari;
  3. ugula ba-sa6 foreman: Basa;
  4. kišib3 nimgir-an-ne2 sealed by Nimgir-ane.
  seal impression
  6. ˹mu˺ a-ra2 2-kam ša-[aš-ru]-umki ba-ḫul Year: Šašrum was destroyed for the 2nd time.
Seal
  1. nimgir-an-ne2 Nimgir-ane,
  2. dub-sar scribe,
  3. dumu inim-dšara2 son of Inim-Šara.

 

§3.7.2. This tablet records an agricultural labor team’s maintenance work on fields. The first section of the text (obv. i 1-10) records the number of workdays of work gangs for harrowing (a2 ĝeš-ur3-ra), while the second section (obv. i 11 – rev. i 13) records the amount of work-days for workers qualified as lu2 huĝ-ĝa2 and ša3-gu4 for hoeing (al). On obv. ii 12 of the obverse, the expression niĝ2-gul appears, which, according to K. Maekawa (1997: 126), is to be translated as “pickaxing.” The second column of the reverse indicates that the record describes fieldwork done (a-ša3-ge kin-ak) in the field of Kamari, and the foreman’s name.

 

§3.8.  BM 106101
Measurements: 11.2×5.2×2.1
Provenience: Umma
Date: undated

 

§3.8.1. Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
  1. 1 1/2 ninda gid2 3 kuš3 dagal 2 kuš3 bur3 1 1/2 ninda the length, 3 cubits the width, 2 cubits the depth,
  2. a-ša3-bi 2/3 sar 5 gin2 its volume: 2/3 sar 5 shekels;
  3. 1/2 ninda 4 kuš3 gid2 4 kuš3 dagal 2 1/3 kuš3 bur3 1/2 ninda 4 cubits the length, 4 cubits the width, 2 1/3 cubits the depth,
  4. a-ša3-bi 2/3 sar la2 1 gin2 its volume: 2/3 sar less 1 shekel;
  5. 2 ninda gid2 4 kuš3 dagal 1 2/3 kuš3 bur3 2 ninda the length, 4 cubits the width, 1 2/3 cubits the depth,
  6. a-ša3-bi 1 sar 6 2/3 gin2 its volume :1 sar 6 2/3 shekels;
  7. 2 ninda gid2 4 kuš3 dagal 1 kuš3 bur3 2 ninda the length, 4 cubits the width, 1 cubit the depth,
  8. a-ša3-bi 2/3 sar its volume: 2/3 sar;
  9. 3 1/2 ninda 3 kuš3 gid2 4 kuš3 dagal 2 kuš3 bur3 3 1/2 ninda 3 cubits the length, 4 cubits the width, 2 cubits the depth,
  10. a-ša3-bi 2 1/2 sar its volume: 2 1/2 sar;
  11. 1/2 ninda 1 kuš3 gid2 2 2/3 kuš3 dagal 1 1/3 kuš3 bur3 1/2 ninda 1 cubit the length, 2 2/3 cubits the width, 1 1/3 cubits the depth,
  12. a-ša3-bi 10 1/3 gin2 its volume: 10 1/3 shekels;
  13. 1/2 ninda gid2 3 kuš3 dagal 2 kuš3 bur3 1/2 ninda the length, 3 cubits the width, 2 cubits the depth,
  14. a-ša3-bi 15 gin2 its volume: 15 shekels;
  15. 1/2 ninda gid2 3 kuš3 dagal 1 1/3 kuš3 bur3 1/2 ninda the length, 3 cubits the width, 1 1/3 cubits the depth,
  16. a-ša3-bi 10 gin2 its volume: 10 shekels;
  17. 1 1/2 ninda 2 kuš3 gid2 nu-ak 1 1/2 ninda 2 cubits the length; unfinished (measurements);
  18. 1 ninda 1 kuš3 gid2 3 kuš3 dagal 1 2/3 kuš3 bur3 1 ninda 1 cubit the length, 3 cubits the width, 1 2/3 cubits the depth;
  19. a-ša3-bi 1/3 sar 7 gin2 its volume 1/3 sar 7 shekels;
  20. 8 gin2 DUB-la2 8 shekels DUBla;
Reverse
  blank space
  1. šuniĝin 6 2/3 sar 1 gin2 kin sahar total: 6 2/3 sar 1 shekel earthwork,
  2. im-du8-a e2 niĝ2-lagar-ka pisé wall work for the household of Niĝ-lagar.
  blank space

 

§3.8.2. The text records the extent of mud/pisé construction work (im-du8-a) in the household of Niĝ-lagar (see Sallaberger 1993: 242). This household is only documented in Umma and so we have an indication of the origin of the text. On the obverse of the tablet, the scribe recorded the amount of construction by measuring the length, width, and (height=) depth of presumed walls and then calculating their volume. In the colophon on the reverse, the total volume of the construction resulting from the sum of the volumes written on the obverse is recorded.[6] The text presents two problems: the last line of the obverse where we can read the expression “8 gin2 DUB-la2” is not attested in this context and it is not clear to what 8 shekels refer. The second problem is represented by the expression nu-ak in line 17 of the obverse. As one can see, that line would have had, like the previous ones, the recording of length, width, and depth of the earth to be excavated. For some reason, the scribe has recorded only the length. The phrase that follows, nu-ak appears in similar contexts in seven texts from both Girsu[7] and Umma[8]. These texts document work on canals by recording the total volume of earth to be excavated. The phrase nu-ak, that literally means “not done,” probably signifies, as already noted by P. Notizia (Mander & Notizia 2009: 246), that, for unclear reasons, the work was incomplete.

 

§3.9.  BM 106102
Measurements: 12×5.9×2.5
Provenience: Umma
Date: Š 42/–/–

 

§3.9.1. Transliteration and Translation

Obverse
  1. [...] x [...] ...
  2. [a2]-bi u4 [...] its labor: n days;
  3. 5(iku) GAN2 tug2-sagx x x ĝeš-ur3-ra a-ra2 3 4(iku) 1/2(iku) GAN2-ta 5 iku of tug-sag work ... (labor of) harrowing, 3 times, at 4 1/2 iku field area (a day),
  5. a2-bi u4 38 1/3-kam its labor: 38 1/3 days;
  6. 4(bur3) GAN2 ˹ĝeš-ur3-ra˺ a-ra2 4 1(eše3) GAN2-ta 4 bur3 of harrowing, 4 times, at 1 eše3 field area (a day),
  7. a2 eren2-na-bi u4 4.00 the workers’ labor: 240 days;
  8. 6(bur3) GAN2 ĝeš-ur3-ra a-ra2 3 1(eše3) GAN2-ta GAN2-ta 6 bur3 of harrowing, 3 times, at 1 eše3 field area (a day),
  9. a2 eren2-na-bi u4 4.30 the workers’ labor: 270 days;
  10. 3(bur3) 1(eše3) 5(iku) GAN2 ĝeš-ur3-ra a-ra2 2 1(eše3) GAN2-ta 3 bur3, 1 eše3 5 iku of harrowing, 2 times, at 1 eše3 field area (a day),
  11. a2 eren2-na-bi u4 1.48 the workers’ labor: 108 days;
  12. a2 ˹ĝeš-ur3-ra˺ labor of harrowing;
  13. 2.30 sar al 5 sar-ta 150 sar of hoeing at 5 sar (a day),
  14. a2-bi u4 30 its labor: 30 days;
  15. ˹31.51˺ sar al 6 sar-ta 1911 sar of hoeing at 6 sar (a day),
  16. ˹a2-bi˺ u4 5.18 1/2 its labor: 318 1/2 days;
  17. ˹24.37˺ sar al 7 sar-ta 1477 sar of hoeing at 7 sar (a day),
  18. ˹a2-bi u4 3.31˺ its labor: 211 days;
  19. ˹29.00 sar al 8 sar-ta˺ 1740 sar of hoeing at 8 sar (a day),
Reverse
  1. a2-bi u4 3.37 1/2 its labor: 217 1/2 days;
  2. ˹2.30 sar niĝ2-gul 15 sar-ta˺ 150 sar of pickaxing at 15 sar (a day),
  3. a2-bi u4 10 its labor: 10 days;
  4. 15.00 sar niĝ2-gul 20 sar-ta 900 sar of pickaxing at 20 sar (a day),
  5. a2-bi u4 45 its labor: 45 days;
  6. 3.36 sar niĝ2-gul ˹12 sar˺-ta 216 sar of pickaxing at 12 sar (a day),
  7. a2-bi u4 ˹18˺ its labor: 18 days;
  8. x ˹2.00?˺ guruš ˹u4˺ [n]-še3 120? workers for ... days,
  9. la-ag ab-sin2-ta ri-ri-ga (for) cleaning the furrows of clumps of earth and debris;
  10. ˹gurum2˺-ak ur-ĝešgigir ugula ašgab?(TA) inspection of Ur-gigir, the supervisor of leatherworkers(?);
  11. ugula ur-ĝešgigir [nu]-banda3-˹gu4˺ the foreman (is) Ur-gigir, the oxen overseer;
  12. kišib3 šeš-kal-[la ...] sealed by Šeškalla ...;
  13. a-ša3 ka-[ma-ri2ki]? (in the) Kamari field;
  seal impression
  14. [mu] ša-aš-šu2-ruki ba-ḫul Year: “Šaššuru was destroyed.”
Seal
  1. lugal-niĝ2-lagar-e Lugal-niĝ-lagar-e,
  2. dub-sar scribe,
  3. [dumu] da-da son of Dada,

 

§3.9.2. The text records an inspection (gurum2-ak) for maintenance work on agricultural fields to be done in the area of Kamari. These works have to be carried out by various teams of workers. Personal names help identify its provenience as Umma, where almost all such accounts originate. For each plot, the text records the size, the type of work to be carried out, the field area to be worked each day, and the total number of working days. The most common jobs to be performed are harrowing (ĝeš-ur3-ra) and hoeing (al). In obv. 3, the expression tug2-sagx appears: according to T. Maeda (1995: 334), this expression indicates a particular type of work performed by the plough that is different from ĝeš-ur3-ra and tug2-gur8 (which do not appear in this text). The expression niĝ2-gul (rev. 2, 4, 6) is discussed in the previous text commentary. A group of guruš workers, whose number is not clear due to an erasure in the text, is employed to clean the furrows of clumps of earth and debris (la-ag ab-sin2-ta ri-ri-ga; see Civil 1994: 86).

 


Notes

1  The author wishes to thank the Gerda Henkel Foundation for the opportunity to develop this research project. Special thanks also go to the Trustees of the British Museum for their support during my period in the Study Room, and to Christopher Walker, whose willingness and deep knowledge of the documentation has helped me to understand several passages in the texts. Thanks also go to Angela Greco for her help in understanding the text BM 19997, and to Franco D’Agostino for his comments and suggestions. Abbreviations used in the article are found on the website of the Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI); add AS (Amar-Sin), IS (Ibbi-Sin), ŠS (Šu-Sin), Š (Šulgi) and WOO (Wiener Offene Orientalistik). Tablet measurements are in cm.

2  For the expression in rev. ii 7, u2-sag11, see Robson 1999: 106.

3  The meaning of the object ḪAR associated with wood or trees is unclear (see Greco 2015: 73). The word “lam” in connection with wood or trees never occurs alone but always in conjunction with one of two objects: ḪAR-lam or KIŠ-lam. In connection with pine (u3-suḫ5), we know of two attestations (CUSAS 3, 1255; CUSAS 3, 272), both with the form ḪAR-lam.

4  See Paoletti & Spada 2005 for a general overview of barley loans.

5  HLC 91 (pl. 31) obv. iii 20, CM 26, 68 obv. 2 & 85 obv. 4; Nisaba 7, 39 obv. 3 & 46 obv. 2.

6  The sum of all the entries (without the 8 gin2 DUBla in line 20) is 6 2/3 sar 3 gin2. The šuniĝin entry of the reverse has 6 2/3 sar 1 gin2.

7  ASJ 19, 142 127 (Š 36/–/–); RTC 412 (AS 3/–/–); ASJ 13, 225 71 (–/–/–); JCS 63, 36 (–/–/–); CT 3, 35 BM 21335 (–/–/–); ASJ 14, 243 92 (–/–/–).

8  SAT 2, 210 (Š 39/–/–).

 

Bibliography

Attinger, Pascal
  1993 Eléments de linguistique sumeriènne. La construction de du11/e “dire”. OBO Sonderband 1. Freiburg: University Press.
Civil, Miguel
  1994 The Farmer’s Instructions. A Sumerian Agricultural Manual. AuOr Supplementa 5. Barcelona: Editorial AUSA.
Greco, Angela
  2015 Garden Administration in the Girsu Province during the Neo-Sumerian Period. BPOA 12. Madrid: Consejo Superior de Invesigaciones Centíficas.
Maeda, Tohru
  1995 “Three Men of a Gang for Plowing and Four Men for Sowing.” ASJ 17, 333-337.
Maekawa, Kazuya
  1992 “The Agricultural Texts of Ur III Lagash of the British Museum (VIII).” ASJ 14, 173-243.
  1997 “The Agricultural Texts of Ur III Lagash of the British Museum (XI).” ASJ 19, 111-145.
Mander, Pietro & Notizia, Palmiro
  2009 “Testi relativi all’agricoltura e a lavori di manutenzione fluviale dallo Harvard Semitic Museum.” In Paola Negri Scafa & Salvatore Viaggio, eds., Dallo Stirone al Tigri, dal Tevere all’Eufrate. Studi in onore di Claudio Saporetti. Rome: Aracne, pp. 233–251.
Paoletti, Paola & Spada, Gabriella
  2005 Testi še-ur5-ra da Girsu conservati al British Museum. Nisaba 10. Messina: DiCAM.
Robson, Eleanor
  1999 Mesopotamian mathematics, 2100-1600 BC: Technical Constants in Bureaucracy and Education. OECT 14. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Rost, Stephanie
  2011 “Irrigation Management in the Ur III Period: a Reconsideration Based on a Case Study of the Maintenance of the íd-NINA-šè-DU Canal of the Province of Lagaš.” In Gebhard Selz, ed., The Empirical Dimension of Ancient Near Eastern Studies. WOO 6. Vienna: LIT-Verlag
Sallaberger, Walther
  1993 Der kultische Kalender der Ur III-Zeit. UAVA 7/1. Berlin: De Gruyter.
Sallaberger, Walther & Westenholz, Aage
  1999 Mesopotamien. Akkade-Zeit und Ur III-Zeit. OBO 160/3. Freiburg: Universitätsverlag & Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht.

Version: 19 August 2017  

Cite this Article
Alivernini, Sergio. 2017. “Nine Unpublished Texts in the  Collection of the British Museum.” Cuneiform Digital Library Bulletin 2017 (1). https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdlb/2017-1.
Alivernini, Sergio. (2017). Nine Unpublished Texts in the  Collection of the British Museum. Cuneiform Digital Library Bulletin, 2017(1). https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdlb/2017-1
Alivernini, Sergio (2017) “Nine Unpublished Texts in the  Collection of the British Museum,” Cuneiform Digital Library Bulletin, 2017(1). Available at: https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/articles/cdlb/2017-1 (Accessed: March 19, 2024).
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	address = {Oxford; Berlin; Los Angeles},
	author = {Alivernini,  Sergio},
	journal = {Cuneiform Digital Library Bulletin},
	number = {1},
	year = {2017},
	publisher = {Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative},
	title = {Nine {Unpublished} {Texts} in the  {Collection} of the {British} {Museum}},
	volume = {2017},
}

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