Administrative tablet excavated in Girsu (mod. Tello), dated to the Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC) period and now kept in British Museum, London, UK
Image
© [see publications]
Transliteration
tablet
obverse
column 1
1. 5(disz) gin2 2/3(|NINDA2x(SZE.2(ASZ))|) ku3-babbar
en: 5 2/3 shekels silver,
2. si-i3-tum
en: remainder;
3. 2(u) 7(asz) 1(barig) 3(ban2) zu2-lum gur lugal
en: 27 gur 1 barig 3 ban2 dates, royal (measure),
4. ku3-bi 1/3(disz){sza} 7(disz) gin2 igi-3(disz)-gal2 la2 6(disz) sze
en: its silver: 1/3 (mana) 7 1/3 shekels less 6 grains,
caluclation: 27;1,3 × 1 shekel per gur = 27 54/180 shekels
5. ki szabra-ta
en: the the household manager;
6. 1(u) gin2 ku3-babbar
en: 10 shekels silver,
7. mu a-sza3 1(bur3) GAN2-sze3
en: because of the field of 1 bur3 surface area,
8. ki ur-{gesz}gigir dam-gar3-ta
en: from Ur-gigir, the trade agent;
blank space
9. szunigin 2/3(disz) ma-na 3(disz) gin2 la2 6(disz) sze ku3-babbar
en: total: 2/3 mana 3 shekels less 6 grains silver,
calculation: 5 2/3 + 27 54/180 + 10 = 42 174/180 shekels
10. sag-nig2-gur11-ra-kam
en: consitute the debits;
11. sza3-bi-ta
en: therefrom:
12. 5(u) 1(disz) 1/2(disz) ma-na 5(disz) gin2 uruda
en: 51 1/2 mana 5 shekels copper,
13. ku3-bi 1/3(disz){sza} 2(disz) gin2 2(u) sze
en: it silver: 1/3 (mana) 2 shekels 20 grains;
calculation: 3095 ÷ 140 shekels per shekel = 22 19.3/180 shekels (?)
14. 5/6(disz) ma-na 2(disz) gin2 la2 igi-6(disz)-gal2 su3-he2
en: 5/6 mana 2 less 1/6 shekels, suḫe,
column 2
1. ku3-bi 1(disz) gin2 2/3(|NINDA2x(SZE.2(ASZ))|) 1(u) sze
en: its silver: 1 2/3 shekels 10 grains;
calculation: 51 150/180 ÷ 30 shekels per shekel = 1 131/180 shekels
2. 2(ban2) 4(disz) sila3 i3-gesz
en: 2 ban2 4 sila3 plant oil,
3. mu i3 tug2-ge2 ak-da-sze3
en: for oiling garments,
4. i3-li2 dam-gar3
en: Ilī, the trade agent,
5. ku3-bi 2(disz) gin2 2/3(|NINDA2x(SZE.2(ASZ))|)
en: its silver: 2 2/3 shekels;
calculation: 24 ÷ 9 sila3 per shekel = 2 2/3 shekels
6. 1(ban2) i3-gesz
en: 1 ban2 plant oil,
7. tug2-ge ak-de3
en: oiling garments,
8. giri3 ur-{d}da-mu ugula usz-bar
en: via Ur-Damu, foremen of weavers,
9. ku3-bi 1(disz) gin2 2(u) sze
en: its silver: 1 shekel 20 grains;
calculation: 10 ÷ 9 sila3 per shekel = 1 20/180 shekels
10. 2(ban2) 5(disz) sila3 esir2? E2-A
en: 2 ban2 5 sila3 EA-bitumen,
11. pisan im sar-ra-sze3
en: for the basket of inscribed tablets,
12. ku3-bi igi-3(disz)-gal2
en: its silver: 1/3 (shekel);
calculation: 25 ÷ 75 sila3 per shekel = 1/3 shekel
13. 2(barig) zu2-lum
en: 2 barig dates,
14. giri3 in-ti-la
en: via Intila,
15. 1(ban2) 5(disz) sila3 zu2-lum
en: 1 ban2 5 sila3 dates,
16. giri3 giri3-{d}ba-ba6-i3-dab5
en: via Giri-Baba-idab,
reverse
column 1
1. ku3-bi igi-3(disz)-gal2 1(u)? 1(disz) sze
en: its silver: 1/3 (shekel) 11 grains,
calculation: 135 ÷ 600 sila3 per shekel = 40 1/2 grains (?)
2. 2(asz) gu2 im-babbar2
en: 2 talents of plaster,
3. ku3-bi igi-6(disz)-gal2 6(disz) sze
en: its silver: 1/6 (shekel) 6 grains,
calculation: 120 ÷ 600 sila3 per shekel = 36 grains
4. giri3 lu2-{d}gesz-bar-e3
en: via Lu-Gešbare;
5. 3(disz) {gesz}u3-suh5 {gesz}szu-dim2 ma2-sze3
en: 3 pine planks, šudim for barges,
6. ku3-bi igi-3(disz)-gal2 x sze 1(u) 2(disz) sze
en: its silver: 1/3 (shekel) 12 grains (?);
calculation: ad hoc ?
7. 2(disz) <sila3> i3-szah2
en: 2 sila3 lard,
8. ku3-bi igi-6(disz)-gal2 6(disz) sze
en: its silver 1/6 (shekel) 6 grains,
calculation: 2 × 18/180 shekels per sila3 = 36 grains
9. ug3-IL2-me
en: (for) the porters,
10. giri3 e2-zi-mu
en: via Ezimu;
11. 3(disz) kusz szah2
en: 3 pigskins,
12. ku3-bi 2(u) la2 2(disz) sze
en: it silver: 20 less 2 grains;
caluclation: 3 × 6/180 shekels per hide = 18 grains
blank space
13. szunigin 1/2(disz) ma-na igi-6(disz)-gal2 2(u) 3(disz) sze ku3-babbar
en: total: 1/2 mana 1/6 (shekel) 23 grains silver,
calculation: 22 20/180 + 1 130/180 + 2 120/180 + 1 20/180 + 60/180 + 71/180 + 36/180 + 72/180 + 36/180 + 18/180 = 29 43/180 (text: 30 83/180 shekels, missing 1 40/180)
14. mu-kux(DU)
en: deliveries;
column 2
1. la2-ia3 1(u) 2(disz) gin2 2/3(|NINDA2x(SZE.2(ASZ))|) 1(disz) sze ku3-babbar
en: the deficit: 12 2/3 shekels, 1 grain silver;
calculation: 42 174/180 - 30 83/180 = 12 91/120 (text: 12 121/180 shekels)
2. nig2-ka9-ak
en: done account of
3. ik-s,ur2 dam-gar3
en: Ikṣur, the trade agent;
blank space
4. iti amar-a-a-si
en: from month: “Amar-ayasi,”
5. mu sza-asz-ru-um{ki} ba-hul-ta
en: year: “Sasrum was destroyed,”
6. iti amar-a-a-si
en: to month: “Amar-ayasi,”
7. mu en {d}nanna masz-e i3-pa3-sze3
en: year: “The high-priestess of nanna was named.”