Artwork Record

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Metadata

Title

[Cuneiform Tablet] #1

Date

2112-2004 BCE

Object Name

Artifact/Antiquity

Description

The Mesopotamian tablet is covered on both sides with lines of small cuneiform writing. A receipt of animals given to Ur-Mes, a state representative, from Inta'ea and Nalu, who work directly with the animals, possibly as herders. This Drehem text records both large and small cattle received by members of the Ur III administration. Intae’a and Ur-mes have been identified as members working in the shepherd’s office by previous Drehem research. This tablet was recorded in Šu-Suen 2 vi 20-22. Here, a small number of animals are being transported via Intae’a to Ur-mes; however, the majority of Intae’a’s animal deliveries to the Ur III state are taken (i3 -dab 5 ) by the individual Duga and only sealed by Ur-mes.35 Ur-mes is a curious figure in the Drehem shepherd’s office. Tsouparopoulou speculates that he may have been an administrative link between the office of the shepherds and the shepherds themselves.36 His status is somewhat nebulous given that he is never described as a scribe.37 This is part of an intricate pattern of exchange between Intae’a, Duga and Ur-mes discussed fully by Tsouparopoulou.38

Date: The 2nd year of the reign of Shu-Suen, month 6; c. 2036 BCE
Provenience: Drehem
Language: Sumerian
Transliteration:Obverse
1. .1(diš). amar maš-da3 munus
2. .u4. 2(u)-kam
3. .1(diš) sila4. 1(diš) amar maš-da3 nita
4. u4 2(u) 1(diš)-kam
5. 1(diš) sila4 1(diš) gu4
6. 7(diš) ab2
7. 1(u) la2 1(diš) dusu2 .nita.
8. 2(diš) dusu2 munus
9. šu-gid2 u4 2(u) 2(diš)-kam
10. ki in-ta-.e.-[a]-.ta.
Reverse
1. 5(diš) udu .ki. na-lu5-[ta]
(blank line ) (from here written on dried clay)
2. .ša3.-bi-.ta.
3. .5(diš) udu. ša3 x mu giri3 šu-i3-li2
4. 2(diš) sila4 2(diš) amar maš-da3
5. giri3 in-ta-e3-a
6. ur-mes i3-dab5
7. 8(diš) ab2 1(u) 1(diš) dusu2
8. d-en-lil2-la2 i3-dab5
(blank line )
9. iti a2-ki-ti
10. mu ma2 dara3-abzu ba-ab-du8
Translation:Obverse
1. 1 young female gazelle
2. (accepted) on the 20th day
3. 1 lamb and 1 young male gazelle
4. (accepted) on the 21st day
5. 1 lamb and 1 ox
6. 7 female cows
7. 9 male donkeys
8. 2 female donkeys
9. accepted on the 22nd day
10. from Inta’ea [2]
Reverse
1. 5 sheep from Nalu [3]
2. credits (literally ‘from its heart’)
3. 5 sheep … via Shu’ili [4]
4. 2 lambs 2 young gazelles
5. via Inta’ea
6. taken by Ur-Mes [5]
7. 8 female cows and 11 donkeys
8. taken for Enlil [6]
9. (recorded in the accounting period of) the month of the akiti [7] festival
10. the year the boat Dara-Abzu was caulked.

[2] "he spoke with him"
[3] I am unsure of the English translation of this name.
[4] "hand of the god"
[5] "servant of the hero"
[6] "lord of the wind"
[7] This is a popular Mesopotamian festival, lasting eleven days and consisting of very elaborate and specific rituals and offerings, including a parade of the deities to the various cities in Mesopotamia.

01/21/2011-05/26/2011 USC Archaeology Lab imaged for Inscriptifact
The tablet was originally in the collection of Venice High School (1932-1997). According to an inventory conducted in 1988, the tablet is #69 on the list. Label: "Venice HS/cuneiform/tablet/69". Ink #5

Catalog Number

AA70

School Site #

1341

School Name

LAUSD Art & Artifact Archive/Museum

Dimension Details

1/2"h x 2"w x 1-3/4"d (actual)

Material

Clay, baked

Related Publications

Michael Roaf, "Cultural Atlas of Mesopotamia and the Ancient Near East" (Fact on File Series, Oxfordshire, England: Andromeda Oxford Limited, 1996)