Administrative tablet excavated in Umma (mod. Tell Jokha), dated to the Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC) period and now kept in California Museum of Ancient Art, Los Angeles, California, USA
Image
© [see publications]
Transliteration
tablet
obverse
column 1
1. 1(u) 1(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 11 male laborer workdays,
2. ga2-nun e2 lugal-ta ga2-nun kar-ra-sze3 gi ga6-ga2
en: from the storage facility of the royal household, to the storage facility of the quay reed transported;
3. 2(u) 2(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 22 male laborer workdays,
4. ga2-nun gaba-kar-ra-ta gu2 i7 idigna-sze3 gi ga6-ga2
en: from the storage facility of Gabakara to the bank of the river Tigris reed transported;
5. 1(u) gurusz# u4# 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborer workdays,
6. e2 u3-ma-ni-ta e2-kikken-sze3 sze ga6-ga2
en: from the Umani household to the mill grain transported;
7. 3(disz) 1/3(disz) sar sahar
en: 3 1/3 sar earth,
8. gurusz-e 1(u) gin2-ta
en: per male laborer (day): 10 shekels,
9. i7 gurusz-gin7-du szu-luh ak
en: the waterway Gurušgindu dredged,
10. 3(disz) 5/6(disz) sar 4(disz) gin2 sahar
en: 3 5/6 sar 4 shekels earth,
11. gurusz-e 1(u) gin2-ta
en: per male laborer (day) 10 shekels,
12. gu2 gesz-gu-la{ki} ak ba-a-si
en: the bank at Gešgula constructed filled in;
13. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborer workdays,
14. ka i7-da-ta dili2#? ma2 e3-a
en: from the mouth of the waterway oar-blades(?) of barge removed;
15. 1(u) 1(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 11 male laborer workdays,
16. gi ga6-ga2 ma2-la2-a kesz2-ra2
en: reed transported, onto a barge convoy bound;
17. 1(u) la2 2(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 less 2 male laborer workdays,
18. umma{ki}-ta ka i7-da-sze3 ma2-ku6 gid2-da
en: from Umma to the mouth of the waterway fish barge punted;
19. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborer workdays,
20. kun#-zi-da dub-la2-{d}utu gub-ba
en: at the reservoir of Dubla’utu stationed;
column 2
1. 2(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 20 male laborer workdays,
2. en-du8-du-ta kar-sze3 gi ga6-ga2
en: from the Endudu to the quay reed transported;
3. 3(u) 1(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 31 male laborer workdays,
4. gi ga6-ga2 ma2-la2-a kesz2-ra2 u3 dur-ra ga2-nun e2 lugal
en: reed transported, onto a barge convoy bound and roped in the storage facility of the royal household;
5. 1(u) 3(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 13 male laborer workdays,
6. umma{ki}-ta kar-sze3 ma2 zi3-da gid2-da u3 ma2 bala ak
en: from Umma to the quay flour barge punted and barge transferred;
7. 1(u) 2(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 12 male laborer workdays,
8. e e2 lugal-ta <<ga2>> ga2-nun gu2 i7 idigna-sze3 gi ga6-ga2
en: from the dike of the royal household to the storage facility of the bank of the river Tigris reed transported;
9. 1(disz) 1/3(disz) sar sahar
en: 1 1/3 sar of earth,
10. gurusz-e 1(u) gin2-ta
en: per male laborer (day): 10 shekels,
11. e a-sza3 ugur2-tur a-sza3 la2-mah ba-a-si
en: dike(s) of the field Ugurtur and the field Lamaḫ filled;
12. 1(u) 5(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 15 male laborer workdays,
13. e2-kikken ur-{d}suen-ta kar-sze3 zi3 ga6-ga2
en: from the mill of Ur-Suen to the quay flour transported;
14. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborer workdays,
15. dub-la2-{d}utu kab2-ku5 en-du8-du ad ak
en: at the Dubla’utu for the reservoir of the Endudu beams made;
16. 1(u) 8(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 18 male laborer workdays,
17. umma{ki}-ta kar-sze3 zi3-sig15 ga6-ga2
en: from Umma to the quay meal transported;
18. 8(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 8 male laborer workdays,
19. ka i7 en-uri3-gal kun-zi-da gi4-a
en: at the mouth of the waterway Enurigal reservoir restored;
20. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborer workdays,
21. i7 dulx(|URxA|)-la-ta ma2 su3 gid2-da {u2}gug4 zex(SIG7)-a dur sur-ra ma2-a kesz2-ra2
en: from wateway Dula empty barge punted, rushes cut, ropes plaited, to barge (convoy) bound;
22. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3#
en: 10 male laborer workdays,
23. nag-su{ki}-sze3 ma2 gid2-[da] ma2 ba-al-[la] u3 kar-sze3 ma2 diri-ga
en: to Nagsu barge punted, barge unloaded, and to the quay barge floated (back);
column 3
1. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(u) la2 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborers for 10 less 1 days,
2. ka i7-da {u2}gug4 zex(SIG7)-a
en: at the mouth of the waterway rushes cut,
3. u4 1(disz)-sze3 ma2-la2-a kesz2-ra2
en: for 1 day onto a barge convoy bound,
4. umma{ki}-sze3 ma2 diri-ga u3 e2-kikken-sze3 ma2 ba-al-la
en: to Umma barge floated and at the mill barge unloaded;
5. 1(u) la2 1(disz) gurusz u4 2(disz)-sze3
en: 10 less 1 male laborers for 2 days
6. gaba-kar-ra gil sur-ra gi ga2-nun-ta e3-a ma2-la2-a kesz2-ra2
en: at Gabakara ... plaited, reed from the storage facility removed, onto a barge convoy bound;
7. u4 1(u) 3(disz)-sze3 kar-ta a2 ka-sahar-ra-ta ma2 gid2-da ma2 ba-al-la u3 umma{ki}-sze3 ma2 su3 gur-ra
en: for 13 days from the quay to alongside Kasaḫar barge punted, barge unloaded and to Umma empty barge returned;
8. 5(disz) gurusz u4# [n-sze3]
en: 5 male laborers for n days
9. ga2-nun gaba-e2-[...] gil sur-ra ma2-la2-a kesz2#-ra2#
en: at the storage facility of the Gabae... ... plaited, onto a barge convoy bound;
10. u4 2(disz)-sze3 nag-su{ki}-sze3 ma2 gid2-da ma2 ba-al-la u3 kar-sze3 ma2 diri-ga
en: for 2 days to Nagsu barge punted, barge unloaded, and to the quay barge floated;
11. 7(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 7 male laborer workdays,
12. umma{ki#}-ta me-en-kar2-sze3 ma2 gid2-da
en: from Umma to Me’enkar barge punted,
13. u4 1(disz)-sze3 sze bala-a sze ma2-a si-ga
en: for 1 day grain transferred, grain onto a barge loaded,
14. u4 1(u)-sze3 me-en-kar2-ta nibru{ki}-sze3 ma2 gid2-da ma2 ba-al-la guru7-a im ur3-ra u3 ma2 gur-ra
en: for 10 days from Me’enkar to Nippur barge punted, barge unloaded, silos with clay sealed, and barge returned;
15. 1(u) 3(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 13 male laborer workdays,
16. ga2-nun gaba-kar-ra ma2-la2-a kesz2-ra2
en: at the storage facility of the Gabakara onto a barge convoy (reed) bound;
17. u4 1(u) 3(disz)-sze3 kar [... ma2 gid2-da?]
en: for 13 days to the quay of ... barge punted(?),
reverse
column 1
1. ma2 ba-al-[la u3] ma2 gur-[ra]
en: barge unloaded and barge returned;
2. 8(disz) gurusz u4 [n-sze3]
en: 8 male laborers for n days,
3. ga2-nun {gesz}ab-[ba gi] ma2-la2-a kesz2-ra2#
en: at the storage facility of Aba reed onto a barge bound;
4. u4 4(disz)-sze3 ga2-nun {gesz}ab-ba-ta nag-su{ki}-sze3 ma2 gid2-da ma2 ba-al-la u3 ga2-nun du3-a
en: for 4 days from the storage facility of Aba to Nagsu barge punted, barge unloaded and storage facility built;
5. 5(disz) gurusz u4 2(disz)-sze3
en: 5 male laborers for 2 days,
6. umma{ki}-ta i7 lugal-sze3 ma2 gid2-da ma2 diri-ga
en: from Umma to royal waterway barge punted, barge floated;
7. u4 1(disz)-sze3 sze bala-a sze ma2-a si-ga
en: for 1 day grain transferred, grain onto a barge loaded,
8. u4 2(disz)-sze3 i7 lugal-ta ka i7-da-<sze3> ma2 gid2-da
en: for 2 days from the royal waterway to the mouth of the waterway barge punted;
9. u4 1(disz)-sze3 ka i7-da-ka ma2 bala ak
en: for 1 day at the mouth of the waterway barge transferred
10. u3 umma{ki}-sze3 ma2 gid2-da
en: and to Umma barge punted;
11. u4 1(disz)-sze3 e2-kikken sumun-sze3 sze ba-al-la
en: for 1 day at the old mill grain unloaded;
12. 5(disz) gurusz u4 2(disz)-sze3
en: 5 male laborers for 2 days
13. umma{ki}-ta kam-sal4-la{ki}-sze3 ma2 gid2-da ma2 diri-ga
en: from Umma to Kamsala barge punted, barge floated;
14. u4 1(u)-sze3 kam-sal4-la{ki}-ta nibru{ki}-sze3 ma2 gid2-da ma2 ba-al-la
en: for 10 days from Kamsala to Nippur barge punted, barge unloaded,
column 2
1. guru7-a im ur3-ra u3 umma-sze3 ma2 gur-ra
en: silos with clay sealed and to Umma barge returned;
blank space
column 3
blank space
1. bar-ta gal2-la kiszib3 nu-tuku gurum2 sza3 pisan ur-{d}szara2 nu-banda3-ta
en: that which is extra, having no seal, inspected, from the basket of Ur-Šara, the overseer,
2. ugula a-a-kal-la
en: foreman: Ayakala;
3. mu {d}szu-{d}suen lugal-e bad3 mar-tu mu-du3
en: year: “Šū-Suen West Wall built.”