JNES 50, 255-280 (P112338)

Administrative tablet excavated in Umma (mod. Tell Jokha), dated to the Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC) period and now kept in Land Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Museum Collection(s)

Land Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Museum Number

Berlin 057

Period

Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)

Provenience

Umma (mod. Tell Jokha)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Administrative

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

136.0 mm × 73.0 mm × 31.0 mm

Text

tablet
obverse
column 1
1. 1(szar2)# 5(gesz'u)# 2(gesz2)# [4(u)] geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3
 en: 6,760 workdays, female workers,
2. si-i3-tum mu si-ma-num2{ki} ba-hul
 en: remaining (deficit) of the year: “Simanum was destroyed;”
3. 3(u) 7(disz) geme2 3(ban2)
 en: 37 female workers (receiving) 3 ban (of barley per month)
4. iti 1(u) 2(disz)-sze3
 en: (over a period of) 12 months,
5. a2-bi u4 3(szar2) 4(gesz'u) 2(gesz2)
 en: its labor: 13,320 days,
  calculation: 37 x 360 = 13,320
6. iti sze-sag11-ku5-ta
 en: from the month “Harvest”
7. iti {d}dumu-zi-sze3
 en: through the month “Dumuzi;”
8. 3(disz) geme2 u4 3(u) 3(disz)-sze3 a2-bi u4 1(gesz2) 3(u) 9(disz)
 en: 3 female workers for 33 days, its labor: 99 days,
9. geme2 bar-ra-kar-ra
 en: female bara-kara workers;
  blank space
10. szunigin 5(szar2) 3(gesz'u) 6(gesz2) 2(u) la2 1(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3
 en: total: 20,180 minus 1 workdays
  calculation: 6,760 + 13,320 + 99 = 20,179
11. sag-nig2-gur11-ra-kam
 en: are the debit;
12. sza3-bi-ta
 en: therefrom:
13. 8(asz) 1(barig) 2(ban2) 1(disz) sila3 zi3 sig15 gur
 en: 8 gur, 1 barig, 2 ban2, 1 sila3 sig-flour,
14. 2(asz) 4(barig) 2(ban2) esza gur
 en: 2 gur, 4 barig, 2 ban2 eša flour,
15. 1(u) 8(asz) 4(barig) 2(ban2) zi3-gu saga gur
 en: 18 gur, 4 barig, 2 ban2 fine pea flour,
16. 2(barig) nig2-ar3-ra saga
 en: 2 barig fine ground ninda flour,
17. 2(gesz2) 4(u) 1(asz) 2(gesz2) 4(barig) 3(ban2) 4(disz) sila3 gin2 dabin gur
 en: 161 gur, 4 barig, 3 ban2, 4 sila3 10 shekels flour,
18. a2-bi u4 1(szar2) 3(gesz'u) 9(gesz2) 4(u) 6(disz) 1(u) gin2
 en: its labor: 5,986 days, 10 shekels,
19. a2 u4-du8-a-bi u4 ($ blank space $)
 en: labor of the free days involved: Ø days,
20. nig2-ka9 sze-ta
 en: from the grain account.
column 2
1. 1(gesz'u) 8(gesz2) 5(u) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 gur10-a zar3 tab-ba
 en: 1,130 workdays, harvested and shocks laid,
2. 2(gesz2) 2(u) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kun-zi-da i7 de3-na gub-ba
 en: 140 workdays, at the river lagoon of “Idena” stationed,
3. 2(u) 5(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kab2-ku5 ki-BAD gub-ba
 en: 25 workdays, at the kiBAD reservoir stationed,
4. 1(gesz2) 3(u) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kun-zi-da e2-duru5-lu2-mah gub-ba
 en: 90 workdays, at the river lagoon of the Lumah village stationed,
5. kiszib3 lu2-gi-na
 en: sealed tablet of Lu-gina;
6. 5(gesz2) 3(u) 8(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-e3-a bar-la2 a-ga-am gu-la gub-ba
 en: 338 workdays, at the sluice of the division box (?) of “Agam-gula” stationed;
7. 3(gesz2) 4(u) 2(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 i7 e2-ansze-sze3 u2 ga6-ga2 u3 sahar si-ga
 en: 222 workdays, to the “E-anše” canal grass carried and earth filled in;
8. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 {u2}kiszi17 ku5-ra2 [...]
 en: Ø workdays, acacia cut ...,
  erasure
9. a-sza3 gid2-da u3 ugur2-tur-tur ga?
 en: at the “long” field and ...,
10. GAN2 a-gu-gu
 en: land of Agugu;
11. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-sza3 nin10-nu-du3 a-ra2 2(disz)-kam
 en: Ø workdays, at the field “Ninnudu,” the second,
  erasure
12. GAN2 lu2-{d}szara2
 en: land of Lu-Šara;
13. ($ blank space $) 1(u) 4(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-sza3 gibil a-sza3 gu4-suhub2 u3 u2-du-lu2-saga
 en: Ø 14 workdays, at the “new” field, the “Oxen-boot” and “Udu-Lusaga” fields,
  erasure
14. GAN2 lu2-{d}szara2 a-ra2 2(disz)-kam
 en: land of Lu-Šara, the second,
15. kiszib3 lu2-he2-gal2 dumu ur-{d}utu
 en: sealed tablet of Lu-ḫegal, son of Ur-Utu;
16. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 {u2}kiszi17 ku5-ra2 1(u) sar-ta a-sza3 a-u2-da
 en: Ø workdays, acacia cut at 10 sar (per day) in the “Auda” field;
  erasure
17. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-sza3 gibil
 en: Ø workdays, at the “new” field;
  erasure
18. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-sza3 bad3 du3-a
 en: Ø workdays, at the field “erected wall;”
  erasure
19. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-sza3 iszib-e-ne
 en: Ø workdays, at the field “išib-priests;”
  erasure
20. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-sza3 gu4-suhub2
 en: Ø workdays, at the field “ Oxen-boot;”
  erasure
reverse
column 1
1. ($ blank space $) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-sza3 nin10-nu-du3
 en: workdays, at the field “Ninnudu,”
2. {u2}kiszi17 ku5-ra2 1(u) sar-ta
 en: acacia cut at 10 sar (per day);
3. kiszib3# da#-a-ga
 en: under seal of Da’aga;
4. 5(gesz2) 1(u) 4(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 a-e3-[a a]-sza3# igi-e2-mah-sze3 gub-ba
 en: 314 workdays, at the sluice of the field before Emaḫ stationed,
5. [kiszib3 a]-kal-la
 en: under seal of Akalla;
6. [n geme2] u4 1(disz)-sze3 kab2#-ku5# a-sza3 [x u3] kab2-ku5 [...]
 en: n workdays, female laborers, at the reservoirs of the fields ... and ...;
7. [kiszib3 x]-{d}x
 en: under seal of ... ;
8. [n] geme2# u4 1(disz)-sze3 zar3 tab-ba a-sza3 muru13
 en: n workdays, female laborers, shocks laid in the field “muru,”
9. kiszib3# lu2#-ku3-zu sukkal
 en: under seal of Lu-kuzu, courrier;
10. 1(gesz2) 5(u) 5(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kab2-ku5 i7 {d}szul-pa-e3
 en: 115 workdays, female laborers, at the reservoir of the Šulpa’e canal;
11. 6(gesz2) 1(u) 5(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kab2-ku5 i7 {d}nin-ur4-ra u3# kab2-ku5 du6-ku3-sig17 kab2-ku5 a-bu3? u3 kab2-ku5 na-ra-am-{d}suen u2 na du?
 en: 375 workdays, at the reservoir of the Nin-ura canal, the reservoir of Dukuge, the reservoir of Abu? and the reservoir of Naram-Suen ... ;
12. 3(gesz2) 4(u) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 u3 lugal tum-ma-gar-ra na-ra-am-{d}suen u2 ga6-ga2 sahar zi-ga
 en: 220 workdays, at the “Lugal-tuma-gara bridge(?) of Naram-Suen,” grass carried, earth excavated;
13. kiszib3 lugal-he2#-gal2
 en: under seal of Lugal-ḫegal;
14. 2(gesz2) 4(u) 5(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)#-sze3# zi3 ar3
 en: 165 workdays, flour ground;
15. 1(gesz2) 8(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kun-zi-da i7 de3-na gub-ba
 en: 68 workdays, stationed at the river lagoon of “Idena;”
  blank space
16. kiszib3 2(disz) lu2-{d}ha-ia3
 en: two sealed tablets of Lu-Ḫaya;
17. 6(gesz2) 3(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 ki-su7 2(asz)-ta
 en: 363 workdays, ‘threshing’ at 2 (gur per day);
19. 2(gesz2) 5(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 e2-duru5 lu2-mah-ta
 en: 125 workdays, from the Lumaḫ village
20. guru7 a-pi4-sal4{ki}-sze3 sze zi-ga u3 sze mu-sza zi-ga
 en: to the silo of Apisal, barley winnowed and muša-grain winnowed;
column 2
1. kiszib3 gu#-du#-du#
 en: under seal of Gududu;
2. 1(gesz2) 1(u) la2# 1(disz@t)# [geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kab2]-ku5 u2-du#-[...]
 en: 69 workdays, at the reservoir of Udu-...;
3. 2(gesz2) 1(u) 8(disz) geme2 u4 [1(disz)-sze3 kab2]-ku5 bad3 du3-a u3 a# [x] x
 en: 138 workdays, at the reservoir of the erected wall and the ...;
4. 1(gesz2) 5(u) 5(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 [kab2-ku5] {d}nin-a-[zu]
 en: 115 workdays, at the reservoir of Nin-azu ...,
5. {u2}har-an ga6-[ga2]
 en: haran-grass carried;
6. kiszib3 na-ba#-[sa6]
 en: under seal of Nabasa;
7. 1(gesz2) 5(u) 5(disz) geme2 u4 [1(disz)-sze3]
 en: 115 workdays,
8. kab2-ku5 a-u2-da# [...]-hal? [gub-ba]
 en: at the reservoir of Auda ... stationed;
9. kiszib3 lugal-inim-gi#-[na]
 en: under seal of Lugal-inim-gina;
10. 2(gesz2) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 kab2-ku5 a-ga-am-gu-la gub-ba
 en: 120 workdays, at the reservoir of Agam-gula stationed;
11. 1(gesz2) 2(u) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 sa-du8 u3 bar gub-ba
 en: 80 workdays, at sadu ... stationed;
12. 1(gesz2) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3 e sa-dur2-ra igi e2-amar-ra
 en: 60 workdays, at the sadura ditch before calf-house;
13. kiszib3 a-gu-gu
 en: under seal of Agugu;
14. 3(u) geme2 u4 1(u)-sze3
 en: 30 female workers for 10 days,
15. a2-bi u4 5(gesz2)-kam
 en: its labor: 300 days:
16. bala-sze3 gen-na bala-ta gur-ra
 en: to the bala (service) traveled, from the bala (service) returned;
17. 3(gesz'u) 3(gesz2) 1(u) 2(disz) 2/3(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3
 en: 1,992 2/3 workdays,
18. a2 u4-du8-a
 en: labor of free days;
  blank space
19. szunigin 3(szar2) 3(gesz'u) 2(gesz2) 3(u) 8(disz) 5/6(disz) geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3
 en: total: 12,758 5/6 workdays
20. zi#-ga-am3
 en: booked out;
21. [la2-ia3] 2(szar2)# 3(gesz2)# 4(u)# 2(disz) 1(u) gin2 geme2 u4 1(disz)-sze3
 en: the deficit: 7,422 workdays, 10 shekels,
22. [nig2-ka9-ak a2] geme2#
 en: account of the labor of the female workers (?),
23. [ugula ...]-x
 en: foreman: ...
24. [mu {d}szu-{d}suen] lugal# [bad3 mar]-tu# mu-[ri-iq-ti-id-ni-im mu]-du3#
 en: year: “Šu-Suen, the king, the Amorite wall ‘muriq-tidnim’ erected”.

Text content

Genre(s) Administrative
Language(s) Sumerian

Chronology

Period Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)
Accounting Period Šū-Suen.04.01.00 to Šū-Suen.04.12.00

Record

LOD URI https://cdli.network/entity/P112338

Physical information

Artifact type Tablet
Dimensions 136.0 mm × 73.0 mm × 31.0 mm
Weight
Material(s) Clay
Preservation

Provenance

Provenience Umma (mod. Tell Jokha)
Written In
Archive
Excavation Number
Findspot
Stratigraphic Level
Elevation

Collections

Collection(s) Land Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Museum Number Berlin 057
Accession Number

External resources

External Resource Identifiers
Database of Neo-Sumerian Texts (BDTNS) 034023

References

  • primary: JNES 50 (pp. 255-280), 255-280

    [Englund1991JNES50] Englund, Robert K. 1991. “Hard Work-Where Will It Get You? Labor Management in Ur III Mesopotamia.” Journal of Near Eastern Studies 50 (4): 255–80. https://doi.org/10.1086/373514.

    unbaked tablet from Umma concerning a géme milling workteam


  • citation: Frühe Schrift, pp. 084-089 to no. 10.14

    [Nissen1991FrüheSchrift] Nissen, Hans J., Peter Damerow, and Robert K. Englund. 1991. Frühe Schrift Und Techniken Der Wirtschaftsverwaltung Im Alten Vorderen Orient. Informationsspeicherung Und -Verarbeitung Vor 5000 Jahren. Franzbecker.

Revisions and credits

Created Creator Type Authors Project Reviewer Status Action
2024-07-22 at 14:41:50 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2024-07-16 at 16:08:09 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2024-07-03 at 09:17:18 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2024-06-15 at 14:25:28 Firth, Richard Artifact metadata, Other metadata Firth, Richard Firth, Richard Approved View
2019-10-06 at 14:59:22 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2019-07-17 at 06:04:22 Pagé-Perron, Émilie Transliteration Pagé-Perron, Émilie CDLI Approved View
2017-03-03 at 09:53:55 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration CDLI CDLI Approved View
2016-12-15 at 17:09:24 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2015-05-25 at 19:33:12 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2015-05-05 at 10:24:42 CDLI Transliteration CDLI CDLI Approved View
2015-03-13 at 21:59:12 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2014-03-12 at 15:23:55 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2014-03-11 at 17:13:32 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2014-03-11 at 16:31:04 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2014-02-22 at 12:47:20 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2012-04-16 at 13:01:15 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2011-07-22 at 13:34:31 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2011-05-02 at 14:15:22 Englund, Robert K. Transliteration Englund, Robert K. CDLI Approved View
2006-10-12 at 12:19:26 CDLI Transliteration CDLI CDLI Approved View
2001-12-20 at 00:00:00 CDLI Artifact metadata CDLI CDLI Approved View

Cite this Artifact

“JNES 50, 255-280 Artifact Entry.” (2001) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 22, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P112338.
JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry (No. P112338). (2024, July 22). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P112338 (Original work published 2001)
JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P112338 (Accessed: May 16, 2026).
@misc{2024JNES,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-16]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 22},
	title = {JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P112338},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P112338},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/22/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P112338
LB  - CDLI:P112338
M1  - 2026/5/16/
TI  - JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P112338
ER  - 

Cite this Artifact

“JNES 50, 255-280 Artifact Entry.” (2001) 2024. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). July 22, 2024. https://cdli.earth/P112338.
JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry (No. P112338). (2024, July 22). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P112338 (Original work published 2001)
JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry (2024) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P112338 (Accessed: May 16, 2026).
@misc{2024JNES,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-05-16]},
	year = {2024},
	month = {jul 22},
	title = {JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P112338},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P112338},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2024/7/22/
PY  - 2024
ID  - P112338
LB  - CDLI:P112338
M1  - 2026/5/16/
TI  - JNES 50, 255-280 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P112338
ER  - 
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