HSS 04, 004 (P110277)

Administrative tablet excavated in Girsu (mod. Tello), dated to the Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC) period and now kept in Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

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Chemical Data

Seal Chemistry

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Museum Collection(s)

Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA

Museum Number

SM 1899.02.291

Period

Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)

Provenience

Girsu (mod. Tello)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Administrative (SM catalogue: grain for(?) various persons; summary says: se gis(?) ra.ra / sabra.ne)

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

156.0 mm × 110.0 mm × 26.0 mm

tablet
obverse
column 1
1. 3(gesz2) 2(u) sze gur lugal
 en: 200 gur barley, royal (measure),
2. szabra
 en: the household manager;
3. 2(u) nu-banda3-gu4 2(u) gur-ta
 en: 20 oxen managers at 20 gur each;
4. 1(gesz2) 4(u) sza13-dub-ba
 en: 100, chief accountant;
5. 1(gesz2) 4(u) sa12-du5
 en: 100, chief surveyor;
6. 1(gesz2) 4(u) ka-guru7
 en: 100, silo manager;
7. 4(u)# dub-sar gu4#-apin
 en: 40, scribe of plow oxen;
8. 4(u)# szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 40, šarabdu;
9. 1(gesz2)# 4(u)# nu-banda3 erin2-na
 en: 100, manager of the worker troops;
10. 4(u)# lu2 sar-me
 en: 40, gardener;
11. 2(u)# ugula-gesz2-da kas4-me
 en: 20, foreman of sixty runners;
12. 2(u)# ugula-gesz2-da gu-za-la2-me
 en: 20, foreman of sixty throne bearers;
13. 1(gesz2)# 4(u)# la2 2(disz) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta
 en: 100 less 2 plowmen at 15 each;
14. ($ blank space $) 4(gesz'u) 3(gesz2) 5(u) gur
 en: (subtotal:) 2630,
  calculation: 200 + (20 × 20 =) 400 + 100 + 100 + 100 + 40 + 40 + 100 + 40 + 20 + 20 + (98 × 15 =) 1470 = 2630
15. e2# {d}nin-gir2-su
 en: household of Ningirsu;
16. [2(gesz2)] 2(u)# szabra
 en: 140, the household manager;
17. [1(u)] 4(disz)# nu-banda3-gu4 2(u) gur-ta
 en: 14 oxen managers at 20 gur each;
18. [1(gesz2) 1(u)] sza13-dub-ba
 en: 70, chief accountant;
19. [1(gesz2) 1(u)] sa12-du5
 en: 70, chief surveyor;
20. [1(gesz2) 1(u)] ka-guru7
 en: 70, silo manager;
21. [2(u)] 8(disz)# dub-sar gu4-apin
 en: 28, scribe of plow oxen;
22. 2(u)# 8(asz)# szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 28, šarabdu;
23. [1(gesz2)] 1(u)# nu#-banda3 erin2-na
 en: 70, manager of the worker troops;
24. [2(u) 8(asz)] lu2# sar#
 en: 28, gardener;
column 2
1. 1(u) 4(asz) ugula-gesz2-da# [kas4-me]
 en: 14, foreman of sixty runners;
2. 1(u) 4(asz) [ugula-gesz2-da gu-za-la2-me]
 en: 14, foreman of sixty throne bearers;
3. 1(gesz2) 1(u) engar# 1(u)# 5(disz)#-ta
 en: 70 plowmen at 15 each;
4. ($ blank space $) 3(gesz'u)# 1(gesz2)# 2(asz)# gur
 en: (subtotal:) 1862,
  calculation: 140 + (14 × 20 =) 280 + 70 + 70 + 70 + 28 + 28 + 70 + 28 + 14 + 14 + (70 × 15 =) 1050 = 1862
5. e2 {d}[...]
 en: household of ...;
6. 3(gesz2) 1(u) sanga#
 en: 190, the temple household manager;
7. 2(u) la2 1(disz) nu-banda3-gu4 2(u)-ta
 en: 20 less 1 oxen managers at 20 each;
8. 1(gesz2) 3(u) 5(asz) sza13-dub-ba
 en: 95, chief accountant;
9. 1(gesz2) 3(u) 5(asz) sa12-du5
 en: 95, chief surveyor;
10. 1(gesz2) 3(u) 5(asz) ka-guru7
 en: 95, silo manager;
11. 3(u) 8(asz) szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 38, šarabdu;
12. 1(gesz2) 3(u) 5(asz) nu-banda3 erin2-na
 en: 95, manager of the worker troops;
13. 3(u) 8(asz) dub-sar gu4-apin
 en: 38, scribe of plow oxen;
14. 3(u) 8(asz) lu2 sar
 en: 38, gardener;
15. 2(u) la2 1(asz) ugula kas4
 en: 20 less 1, foreman of runners;
16. 2(u) la2 1(asz) <ugula> gu-za-la2
 en: 20 less 1, foreman of throne bearers;
17. 1(gesz2) 3(u) 5(disz) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta
 en: 95 plowmen at 15 each;
18. ($ blank space $) 4(gesz'u) 2(gesz2) 7(asz) gur
 en: (subtotal:) 2527,
  calculation: 190 + (19 × 20 =) 380 + 95 + 95 + 95 + 38 + 95 + 38 + 38 + 19 + 19 + (95 × 15 =) 1425 = 2527
19. e2 {d}nin-mar{ki}
 en: houshold of Ninmar;
20. 1(gesz2) 2(u) szabra
 en: 80, the household manager;
21. 8(disz) nu-banda3-gu4 2(u)-ta
 en: 8 oxen managers at 20 each;
22. 4(u) sza13-dub-ba
 en: 40, chief accountant;
23. 4(u) sa12-du5
 en: 40, chief surveyor;
24. 4(u) ka-guru7
 en: 40, silo manager;
25. 1(u) 6(asz) dub-sar gu4-apin
 en: 16, scribe of plow oxen;
26. 1(u) 6(asz) szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 16, šarabdu;
column 3
1. [4(u) nu-banda3 erin2-na]
 en: 40, manager of the worker troops;
2. [1(u) 6(asz) lu2 sar]
 en: 16, gardener;
3. 8(asz)# [ugula kas4]
 en: 8, foreman of runners;
4. 8(asz)# <ugula> gu-za-la2
 en: 8, foreman of throne bearers;
5. 4(u) 2(disz) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta#
 en: 42 plowmen at 15 each;
6. ($ blank space $) 1(gesz'u) 8(gesz2) 1(u) 4(asz) [gur]
 en: (subtotal:) 1094
  calculation: 80 + (8 × 20 =) 160 + 40 + 40 + 40 + 16 + 16 + 40 + 16 + 8 + 8 + (42 × 15 =) 630 = 1094
7. e2 {d}nin-gesz-zi-da#
 en: household of Ningešzida
8. u3 e2 {d}ig-alim
 en: and household of Igalim;
9. 1(gesz2) szabra
 en: 60, the household manager;
10. 6(disz) nu-banda3-gu4 2(u)-ta
 en: 6 oxen managers at 20 each;
11. 3(u) sza13-dub-ba
 en: 30, chief accountant;
12. 3(u) sa12-du5
 en: 30, chief surveyor;
13. 3(u) ka-guru7
 en: 30, silo manager;
14. 1(u) 2(asz) dub-sar gu4-apin#
 en: 12, scribe of plow oxen;
15. 1(u) 2(asz) szar2-ra-ab-du#
 en: 12, šarabdu;
16. 3(u) nu-banda3 erin2-na
 en: 30, manager of the worker troops;
17. 1(u) 2(asz) lu2 sar
 en: 12, gardener;
18. 6(asz) ugula kas4
 en: 6, foreman of runners;
19. 6(asz) <ugula> gu-za-la2
 en: 6, foreman of throne bearers;
20. 3(u) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta
 en: 30 plowmen at 15 each;
21. ($ blank space $) 1(gesz'u) 3(gesz2) 1(u) 8(asz) gur
 en: (subtotal:) 798,
  calculation: 60 + (6 × 20 =) 120 + 30 + 30 + 30 + 12 + 12 + 30 + 12 + 6 + 6 + (30 × 15 =) 450 = 798
22. lugal-siki-su3
 en: Lugal-sikisu;
23. 1(gesz2) szabra
 en: 60, the household manager;
24. 6(disz) nu-banda3-gu4 2(u)-ta
 en: 6 oxen managers at 20 gur each;
25. 3(u) sza13-dub-ba
 en: 30, chief accountant;
26. 3(u) sa12-du5
 en: 30, chief surveyor;
27. 3(u) ka-guru7
 en: 30, silo manager;
reverse
column 1
1. 1(u) 2(asz) dub-sar gu4-apin
 en: 12, scribe of plow oxen;
2. 1(u) 2(asz) szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 12, šarabdu;
3. 3(u) nu#-banda3 erin2
 en: 30, manager of the worker troops;
4. 1(u) 2(asz) lu2 sar
 en: 12, gardener;
5. 6(asz) ugula kas4
 en: 6, foreman of runners;
6. 6(asz) <ugula> gu-za-la2
 en: 6, foreman of throne bearers;
7. 3(u) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta
 en: 30 plowmen at 15 each;
8. ($ blank space $) 1(gesz'u) 3(gesz2) 1(u) 8(asz) gur
 en: (subtotal:) 798,
  calculation: 60 + (6 × 20 =) 120 + 30 + 30 + 30 + 12 + 12 + 30 + 12 + 6 + 6 + (30 × 15 =) 450 = 798
9. ur-szu-ga-lam-ma
 en: Ur-šugalama,
10. e2 {d}szul-gi
 en: household of Šulgi;
11. 4(u) szabra
 en: 40, the household manager;
12. 4(disz) nu-banda3 [2(u)-ta]
 en: 4 oxen managers at 20 each;
13. 2(u) sza13-dub-[ba]
 en: 20, chief accountant;
14. 2(u) sa12-[du5]
 en: 20, chief surveyor;
15. 2(u) ka-guru7#
 en: 20, silo manager;
16. 8(asz) dub-sar gu4 [apin]
 en: 8, scribe of plow oxen;
17. 8(asz) szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 8, šarabdu;
18. 2(u) nu-banda3 erin2
 en: 20, manager of the worker troops;
19. 8(asz)# lu2 sar
 en: 8, gardener;
20. [4(asz)] ugula kas4#
 en: 4, foreman of runners;
21. 4(asz) [<ugula> gu-za-la2]
 en: 4, foreman of throne bearers;
22. 2(u)# [engar 1(u) 5(asz)]-ta#
 en: 20 plowmen at 15 each;
23. [($ blank space $) 9(gesz2) 1(u) 2(asz) gur]
 en: [(subtotal:) 552,]
  calculation: 40 + (4 × 20 =) 80 + 20 + 20 + 20 + 8 + 8 + 20 + 8 + 4 + 4 + (20 × 15 =) 300 = 552
24. [...]
 en: ...,
25. [e2 {d}...]
 en: household of ...;
26. [1(gesz2) 1(u) szabra]
 en: 70, the household manager;
27. [7(disz) nu-banda3-gu4 2(u)-ta]
 en: 7 oxen managers at 20 gur each;
28. [3(u) 5(asz) sza13-dub-ba]
 en: 35, chief accountant;
29. [3(u) 5(asz) sa12-du5]
 en: 35, chief surveyor;
30. [3(u) 5(asz) ka-guru7]
 en: 35, silo manager;
column 2
1. 1(u) 4(asz) dub-sar gu4-apin
 en: 14, scribe of plow oxen;
2. 1(u) 4(asz) szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 14, šarabdu;
3. 3(u) 5(asz) nu-banda3 erin2
 en: 35, manager of the worker troops;
4. 1(u) 4(asz) lu2 sar
 en: 14, gardener;
5. 7(asz) ugula kas4
 en: 7, foreman of runners;
6. 7(asz) <ugula> gu-za-la2
 en: 7, foreman of throne bearers;
7. 3(u) 5(disz) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta
 en: 35 plowmen at 15 each;
8. ($ blank space $) 1(gesz'u) 5(gesz2) 3(u) 1(asz) gur
 en: (subtotal:) 931,
  calculation: 70 + (7 × 20 =) 140 + 35 + 35 + 35 + 14 + 14 + 35 + 14 + 7 + 7 + (35 × 15 =) 525 = 931
9. e2 {d}dumu-zi
 en: household of Dumuzi;
10. 1(gesz2) 2(u) szabra
 en: 80, the household manager;
11. 8(disz) nu-banda3-gu4 2(u)-ta
 en: 8 oxen managers at 20 each;
12. 4(u) sza13-dub-ba
 en: 40, chief accountant;
13. 4(u) sa12-du5
 en: 40, chief surveyor;
14. 4(u) ka-guru7
 en: 40, silo manager;
15. 1(u) 6(asz) dub-sar gu4-apin
 en: 16, scribe of plow oxen;
16. 1(u) 6(asz) szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 16, šarabdu;
17. 4(u) nu-banda3 erin2
 en: 40, manager of the worker troops;
18. 1(u) 6(asz) lu2 sar
 en: 16, gardener;
19. 8(asz)# maszkim
 en: 8, foreman of runners;
20. [8(asz) gu]-za-la2#
 en: 8, foreman of throne bearers;
21. 4(u) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta
 en: 40 plowmen at 15 each;
22. ($ blank space $) 1(gesz'u) 7(gesz2) 4(u) 4(asz) gur
 en: (subtotal:) 1064,
  calculation: 80 + (8 × 20 =) 160 + 40 + 40 + 40 + 16 + 16 + 40 + 16 + 8 + 8 + (40 × 15 =) 600 = 1064
23. e2 nam-ha-ni
 en: household of Namḫani;
24. 4(u) [szabra]
 en: 40, the household manager;
25. 4(disz) nu-banda3-[gu4 2(u)-ta]
 en: 4 oxen managers at 20 each;
26. 2(u) sza13#-[dub-ba]
 en: 20, chief accountant;
27. 2(u) sa12#-[du5]
 en: 20, chief surveyor;
28. 2(u) [ka-guru7]
 en: 20, silo manager;
column 3
1. [8(asz) dub]-sar# gu4-apin
 en: 8, scribe of plow oxen;
2. [8(asz)] szar2-ra-ab-du
 en: 8, šarabdu;
3. 2(u) nu-banda3 erin2
 en: 20, manager of the worker troops;
4. 8(asz) lu2 sar
 en: 8, gardener;
5. 4(asz) ugula kas4
 en: 4, foreman of runners;
6. 4(asz) <ugula> gu-za-la2
 en: 4, foreman of throne bearers;
7. 2(u) engar 1(u) 5(asz)-ta
 en: 20 plowmen at 15 each;
8. ($ blank space $) 8(gesz2) 5(u) 2(asz) gur
 en: (subtotal:) 532,
  calculation: 40 + (4 × 20 =) 80 + 20 + 20 + 20 + 8 + 8 + 20 + 8 + 4 + 4 + (20 × 15 =) 300 = 532
9. e2 uru11{ki}
 en: household of Uru;
  blank space
10. szunigin 3(asz) guru7 3(gesz'u) 2(gesz2) 5(u) 8(asz) gur
 en: total: 3 silos, 1978 gur;
  calculation: 2630 + 1862 + 2527 + 1094 + 798 + 798 + 552 + 931 + 1064 + 532 = 12,788 (text: 12,778 ?)
  blank space
11. sze gesz ra sanga szabra-ne
 en: threshed barley of temple household managers and household managers;
12. iti GAN2-masz
 en: month: ‟GANmaš,”
13. mu us2-sa# [{d}amar]-{d}suen lugal#
 en: year after: ‟Amar-Suen (is) king.”

Consult previous versions and their differences
Consult sign list of Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)
Consult word list of Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)

  • Artifact type: Tablet
  • Material: Clay
  • Measurements (mm): 156.0 high × 110.0 wide × 26.0 thick
  • Weight:
  • Artifact Preservation:
  • Condition Description: obv.: break at upper right and lower left corners; rev.: large break in lower right corner, substantial effacing in lower half; large tablet; 3 col. format
  • Join Information:
  • Seal no.:
  • Seal information:
  • Artifact comments:

  • Genre(s): Administrative (SM catalogue: grain for(?) various persons; summary says: se gis(?) ra.ra / sabra.ne)
  • Language(s): Sumerian

  • primary: STH 2 = HSS 4, 4

    [Hussey1915HSS4] Hussey, Mary I. 1915. Sumerian Tablets in the Harvard Semitic Museum. Part II: From the Time of the Dynasty of Ur. Harvard Semitic Series 4. Cambridge, U.S.A.: Harvard University Press.

  • history: BBVO 10, p. 60-63

    [Englund1990Fischerei] Englund, Robert K. 1990. Organisation Und Verwaltung Der Ur III-Fischerei. Berliner Beiträge Zum Vorderen Orient, Band 10. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.

  • history: OLA 5-6, p.1-97, p. 1-97

    [Gelb1979] Gelb, Ignace J. 1979. “Household and Family in Early Mesopotamia.” In State and Temple Economy in the Ancient Near East. Proceedings of the International Conference Organized by the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven from the 10th to the 14th of April 1978, edited by Edward Lipiński, 1–97. Orientalia Lovaniensia Analecta 5–6. Leuven: Departement Oriëntalistiek.

  • history: Sallaberger, OBO 160/3, p. 288-290

    [Sallaberger1999OBO160/3] Sallaberger, Walther. 1999. “Ur III-Zeit.” In Annäherungen 3: Mesopotamien. Akkade-Zeit Und Ur III-Zeit, edited by Pascal Attinger and Markus Wäfler, 119–390. Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis 160/3. Freiburg Schweiz: Universitätsverlag.

  • history: Deimel, Anton, MVAG 21 (1916) 226-232,

    [sec10710] N.d.

  • citation: Fs Jacobsen (AS 20), 059-060,

    [Jones1976AS20] Jones, Tom B. 1976. “Sumerian Administrative Documents: An Essay.” Sumerological Studies in Honor of Thorkild Jacobsen on His 70th Birthday, June 7, 1974, Assyriological Studies, , no. 20.

  • citation: ASJ 17, p.175-231, p. 202

    [Maekawa1995agricultural-10] Maekawa, Kazuya. 1995. “The Agricultural Texts of Ur III Lagash of the British Museum (X).” Acta Sumerologica 17: 175–231.

  • citation: ASJ 20, p.63-110, p. 92

    [Maekawa1998labor] Maekawa, Kazuya. 1998. “Ur III Girsu Records of Labor Forces in the British Museum (1).” Acta Sumerologica 20: 63–110.

    (obv. iii 14ff.)

  • citation: Priests & officials p.61-102, p. 82 n. 39

    [Maekawa1999temples] Maekawa, Kazuya. 1999. “The ‘Temples’ and the ‘Temple Personnel’ of Ur III Girsu-Lagash.” In Priests and Officials in the Ancient Near East. Papers of the Second Colloquium on the Ancient Near East, The City and Its Life, Held at the Middle Eastern Culture Center in Japan (Mitaka, Tokyo), edited by Kazuko Watanabe, 61–102. Heidelberg: Universitätsverlag C. Winter.

  • citation: OrAnt 26, p.291-298, p. 292 n. 5

    [Waetzoldt1986Beschwörung] Waetzoldt, Hartmut, and Fatma Yıldız. 1986. “Eine Neusumerische Beschwörung.” Oriens Antiquus 26: 291–98.

    (Schülerübung)

  • citation: AOS 68, p. 117-141, p. 135-136

    [Waetzoldt1987compensation] Waetzoldt, Hartmut. 1987. “Compensation of Craft Workers and Officials in the Ur III Period.” In Labor in the Ancient Near East, edited by Marvin A. Powell, 117–41. American Oriental Series, Volume 68. New Haven, Connecticut: American Oriental Society.

  • Composite No.:
  • Museum No.: SM 1899.02.291
  • Accession No.: 01669

  • Provenience: Girsu (mod. Tello)
  • Elevation:
  • Stratigraphic Level:
  • Excavation No:
  • Findspot Square:
  • Findspot Comments:

  • Period: Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)
  • Dates Referenced: Amar-Suen.02.01.00 (us2 year)
  • Alternative Years:
  • Date Comments:
  • Accounting Period: 0

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2017-03-03 at 09:53:57 Englund, Robert K. Atf CDLI CDLI approved View
2015-12-12 at 14:04:11 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2014-03-16 at 12:10:29 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2014-03-16 at 11:55:01 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2011-07-22 at 13:31:24 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2011-05-02 at 14:13:25 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2010-04-10 at 06:04:38 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2009-06-03 at 10:02:59 Englund, Robert K. Atf Englund, Robert K. CDLI approved View
2008-02-01 at 13:27:43 Dahl, Jacob L. Atf Dahl, Jacob L. CDLI approved View
2008-02-01 at 12:15:36 Dahl, Jacob L. Atf Dahl, Jacob L. CDLI approved View
2006-10-12 at 12:18:42 CDLI Atf CDLI CDLI approved View
2001-12-20 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact CDLI CDLI approved View

Consult this artifact as presented on the website of collections and projects:

General Notes: -
CDLI Notes: -
Cite this Artifact
“HSS 04, 004 Artifact Entry.” 2001. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). December 20, 2001. https://cdli.ucla.edu/P110277.
HSS 04, 004 artifact entry (No. P110277). (2001, December 20). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.ucla.edu/P110277
HSS 04, 004 artifact entry (2001) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.ucla.edu/P110277 (Accessed: April 18, 2024).
@misc{2001HSS,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2024-04-18]},
	year = {2001},
	month = {dec 20},
	title = {HSS 04, 004 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P110277},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.ucla.edu/P110277},
}


TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2001/12/20/
PY  - 2001
ID  - P110277
LB  - CDLI:P110277
M1  - 2024/4/18/
TI  - HSS 04, 004 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.ucla.edu/P110277
ER  -
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