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

Cite

Photo

Lineart

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

Text

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)

Text content

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

Chronology

Period	Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)
Dates Referenced	Amar-Suen.02.01.00 (us2 year)
Accounting Period

Record

CDLI number	P110277
LOD URI	https://cdli.network/entity/P110277

Physical information

Artifact type	Tablet
Dimensions	156.0 mm × 110.0 mm × 26.0 mm
Weight
Material(s)	Clay
Preservation	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

Provenance

Provenience	Girsu (mod. Tello)
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

Collection(s)	Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
Museum Number	SM 1899.02.291
Accession Number	01669

External resources

External Resource	Identifiers
Database of Neo-Sumerian Texts (BDTNS)	004174

References

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: MVAG 21 (1916) 226-232

[Deimel1916MVAG21] Deimel, P. Anton. 1916. Orientalistische Studien : Fritz Hommel Zum Sechzigsten Geburtstag Am 31. Juli 1914, Mitteilungen der Vorderasiatischen Gesellschaft, 21.
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 Jay. 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.
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

[Waetzoldt1986Beschworung] 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.

Revisions and credits

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

Cite this Artifact

“HSS 04, 004 Artifact Entry.” 2001. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). December 20, 2001. https://cdli.earth/P110277.

HSS 04, 004 artifact entry (No. P110277). (2001, December 20). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P110277

HSS 04, 004 artifact entry (2001) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P110277 (Accessed: October 14, 2026).

@misc{2001HSS,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-14]},
	year = {2001},
	month = {dec 20},
	title = {HSS 04, 004 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P110277},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P110277},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2001/12/20/
PY  - 2001
ID  - P110277
LB  - CDLI:P110277
M1  - 2026/10/14/
TI  - HSS 04, 004 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P110277
ER  -

Cite this Artifact

“HSS 04, 004 Artifact Entry.” 2001. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). December 20, 2001. https://cdli.earth/P110277.

HSS 04, 004 artifact entry (No. P110277). (2001, December 20). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P110277

HSS 04, 004 artifact entry (2001) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P110277 (Accessed: October 14, 2026).

@misc{2001HSS,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-10-14]},
	year = {2001},
	month = {dec 20},
	title = {HSS 04, 004 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P110277},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P110277},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2001/12/20/
PY  - 2001
ID  - P110277
LB  - CDLI:P110277
M1  - 2026/10/14/
TI  - HSS 04, 004 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P110277
ER  -