MVN 10, 196 (P115963)

Administrative tablet excavated in Girsu (mod. Tello), dated to the Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC) period and now kept in Anonymous

Cite

Lineart

Photo (detail)

Museum Collection(s)

anonymous

Museum Number

Anonymous 115963

Period

Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)

Provenience

Girsu (mod. Tello)

Artifact Type

Tablet

Material(s)

Clay

Genre / Subgenre(s)

Administrative

Language(s)

Sumerian

Measurements

118.0 mm × 77.0 mm

Text

tablet
obverse
column 1
1. 1(u)# gurusz iti 1(u) 2(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborers for 12 months,
2. a2 gurusz-bi 1(szar2) u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: labor of the male laborers: 3600 workdays,
blank space
3. sag-nig2-gur11-ra-kam sza3-bi-ta
en: are the debits; therefrom:
4. 4(u) 7(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 47 workdays, male laborers,
5. ga2-nun du3-a kiszib3 ur-tur
en: storage facility erected, under seal of Urtur;
6. 3(gesz2) 5(u) 8(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 238 workdays, male laborers,
7. kiszib3 lugal-nidba-e
en: under seal of Lugal-nidba’e;
8. 1(gesz2) 1(u) 5(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 115 workdays, male laborers,
9. kiszib3 ur-tur
en: under seal of Urtur;
10. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3 lugal-ezem
en: 10 workdays, male laborers, Lugal-ezem;
11. 2(u) 4(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3 gir2-su{ki}-sze3 ma2 tur
en: 24 workdays, male laborers, to Girsu the small barge;
12. 5(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3 kiszib3 ab-ba-sa6-ga
en: 50 workdays, male laborers, under seal of Abbasaga;
13. 3(gesz2) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3 kiszib3-bi 2(disz)-am3
en: 180 workdays, male laborers, the sealed documents are 2,
14. kiszib3 ur-mes szabra
en: under seal of Urmes, household manager;
15. 1(gesz2) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3 a2 szu-ti-ru-um
en: 60 workdays, male laborers, labor of Šutirum,
16. giri3 ba-er
en: via Ba’er
17. 2(gesz2) 5(u) gu-nigin2 gi-zi
en: 125 bales, fodder reed,
18. kiszib3 ab-ba-sa6-ga
en: under seal of Abbasaga;
19. 4(gesz2) 4(u) 4(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 284 workdays, male laborers,
20. mar-sa-a gub-ba
en: stationed at marsa,
21. kiszib3 ur-{d}ba-ba6
en: under seal of Ur-Baba;
22. 1(gesz'u) 7(gesz2) 4(u) 6(asz) gur in-nu
en: 1066 gur straw,
23. kiszib3 ur-mes
en: under seal of Urmes;
24. 2(gesz2) 1(u) 5(disz) gu-nigin2 gi NE a2 gurusz-bi 1(gesz2) 7(disz) 1/2(disz)
en: 135 bales of NE-reed, its labor of the male laborers: 67 1/2
calculation: 135 ÷ 2 bales per workday = 67 1/2
25. kiszib3 lugal?-{d}nin-szubur
en: under seal of Lugal-Ninšubur;
26. szunigin? 3(gesz'u) x zi-ga
en: total: 1800 ... booked out;
27. 3(gesz'u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 1800 workdays, male laborers,
28. [x?] a2 gurusz u4-tusz-a
en: labor of the male laborers, sat-out days,
calculation: 3600 × 1/2 = 1800
29. [...] a2 diri 7(gesz2) 5(u) 1(disz) 1/2(disz)?
en: ... labor, surplus: 471 1/2
column 2
1. 2(gesz2) 3(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 150 workdays, male laborers,
2. ma2 gi gir2-su{ki}-sze3 gid2-da
en: barge with reed from Girsu punted,
3. 2(gesz2) 2(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 140 workdays, male laborers,
4. mar-sa gub-ba
en: at marsa stationed
5. kiszib3 ur-{d}ba-ba6
en: under seal of Ur-Baba;
6. 1(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 10 workdays, male laborers,
7. gi ze2-a
en: reed uprooted,
8. kiszib3 nig2-u2-rum
en: under seal of Nir-urum;
9. 4(gesz2) 3(u) in-nu gur
en: 270 gur straw,
10. a-ra2 1(disz)-kam
en: the 1st time;
11. 1(gesz'u) 7(gesz2) 4(u) 6(asz) in-nu gur
en: 1066 gur straw,
12. a-ra2 2(disz)-kam
en: the 2nd time,
13. kiszib3 ur-mes
en: unders seal of Urmes;
14. 2(gesz2) 1(u) 5(disz) gu-nigin2 gi-zi
en: 135 bales of fodder-reed,
15. a2 gurusz-bi 1(gesz2) 7(disz) 1/2(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: the labor of male laborers: 67 1/2 workdays, male laborers,
16. kiszib3 {d}utu-ik-s,ur2
en: under seal of Šamaš-ikṣur;
17. 4(u) 7(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 47 workdays, male laborers,
18. ga2-nun mar-sa du3-a
en: storage facility of marsa erected;
19. kiszib3 ur-tur
en: under seal of Urtur;
20. 2(u) 4(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 24 workdays, male laborers,
21. kiszib3 lugal-nidba2-e
en: under seal of Lugal-nidba’e;
22. ($ blank space $) 3(gesz'u) 1(gesz2) 4(disz) 1/2(disz)
en: (subtotal:) 1864 1/2
23. zi-ga-am3
en: booked out;
24. 3(gesz'u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 1800 workdays, male laborers,
25. a2 u4-tusz-a
en: labor of sat-out days,
26. a2 diri 1(gesz2) 4(disz) 1/2(disz) gurusz
en: labor, surplus: 64 1/2 male laborers;
27. nig2-ga-ak er3-re-eb
en: account of Erreb,
if so, nig2-ga-ak = nig-ka9-ak
reverse
column 1
1. kiszib3 ur-tur
en: under seal of Urtur;
2. 1(gesz'u) 7(gesz2) 4(u) 6(asz) gur in-nu
en: 1066 gur straw,
3. kiszib3 ur-mes
en: under seal of Urmes;
4. ($ blank space $) 2(gesz'u) 2(gesz2) 3(u) 2(disz)
en: (subtotal:) 1352
5. zi-ga-am3
en: booked out;
6. 3(gesz'u)# gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 1800 workdays, male laborers,
7. a2 u4-tusz-a
en: labor of sat-out days,
8. la2#-ia3 7(gesz2) 2(u) 8(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: the deficit: 448 workdays, male laborers;
blank space
9. nig2-ka9#?-ak nig2#-la-a
en: account of Nigla’a;
10. 1(u)# gurusz# iti# u4 1(u) 2(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborers for 12 months,
11. a2#-bi# u4# 1(szar2)#-kam
en: its labor: 3600 workdays,
12. u4 [1(disz)]-sze3
en: for 1 day,
blank space
13. sag#-nig2-gur11-ra-[kam] sza3-bi-ta
en: are the debits; therefrom:
14. 2(u) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 20 workdays, male laborers,
15. 1(gesz2) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3 a2#? {d}iszkur-illat
en: 60 workdays, male laborers, labor of Adda-tillati,
16. giri3# ba-er
en: via Ba’er;
column 2
1. 1(u) gurusz iti u4 1(u) 2(disz)-sze3
en: 10 male laborers for 12 months,
2. a2-bi u4 1(szar2)-kam
en: its labor: 3600 workdays,
3. u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: for 1 day,
blank space
4. sag-nig2#-gur11-ra-kam sza3-bi-ta
en: are the debits; therefrom:
5. 1(gesz2) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 60 workdays, male laborers,
6. kiszib3 ur-mes
en: under seal of Urmes;
7. 2(u) 4(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 24 workdays, male laborers,
8. mar-sa gub-ba
en: at marsa stationed,
9. kiszib3 ur-{d}ba-ba6
en: under seal of Ur-Baba;
10. 1(gesz2) gu-nigin2 gi#-zi#
en: 60 bales of fodder-reed,
11. kiszib3 ab-ba-sa6-ga#
en: under seal of Abbasaga;
12. 1(u) 5(disz) gu-nigin2 gi# NE#
en: 15 bales of NE-reed,
13. kiszib3 lugal-{d#}nin#-[szubur]
en: under seal of Lugal-Ninšubur;
14. 2(u) gurusz u4 [1(disz)-sze3]
en: 20 workdays, male laborers,
15. kiszib3 ur-[...]
en: under seal of Ur-...;
16. 1(gesz2) gurusz u4 [1(disz)-sze3]
en: 60 workdays, male laborers,
17. kiszib3 ab-ba-sa6-[ga]
en: under seal of Abbasaga;
18. x-x-ni-da#?-a
en: ...;
19. 4(u) 7(disz) gurusz u4 1(disz)-sze3
en: 47 workdays, male laborers,
20. ga2-nun mar-sa du3#-[a]
en: storage facility of marsa erected;
left
column 1
1. ugula a-da-lal3
en: foreman: Adalal,
column 2
1. mu hu-uh3!-nu-ri{ki} ba-hul
en: year: “Ḫuḫnuri was destroyed.”
2. 1(u) ($ blank space $) 2(disz)
en: ...

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
Language(s)	Sumerian

Chronology

Period	Ur III (ca. 2100-2000 BC)
Dates Referenced	Amar-Suen.07.00.00
Accounting Period

Record

CDLI number	P115963
Permalink	https://cdli.network/entity/P115963

Physical information

Artifact type	Tablet
Dimensions	118.0 mm × 77.0 mm
Weight
Material(s)	Clay
Preservation

Provenance

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

Collections

Collection(s)	anonymous
Museum Number	Anonymous 115963
Accession Number

External resources

External Resource	Identifiers
Database of Neo-Sumerian Texts (BDTNS)	023291

References

primary: MVN 10, 196

[Gregoire1981MVN10] Grégoire, Jean-Pierre. 1981. Inscriptions et Archives Administratives Cunéiformes (1e Partie). Materiali per Il Vocabolario Neosumerico 10. Roma: Multigrafica Editrice.
history: JESHO 31, p.121-185, p. 171 + n. 45

[Englund1988timekeeping] Englund, Robert K. 1988. “Administrative Timekeeping in Ancient Mesopotamia.” Journal of the Economic and Social History of the Orient 31: 121–85.

Revisions and credits

Created	Creator	Type	Authors	Reviewer	Status
2022-07-04 at 08:38:26	Lafont, Bertrand	Transliteration	Lafont, Bertrand	CDLI	Approved
2016-12-15 at 17:09:24	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2016-12-05 at 21:26:49	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Ozaki Tohru	CDLI	Approved
2015-06-12 at 09:52:39	CDLI	Transliteration	CDLI	CDLI	Approved
2015-03-13 at 21:55:39	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2015-03-13 at 12:45:20	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2014-03-16 at 14:45:55	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2012-02-14 at 19:19:22	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2011-07-22 at 13:40:03	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2011-05-02 at 14:19:19	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2009-06-03 at 10:18:58	Englund, Robert K.	Transliteration	Englund, Robert K.	CDLI	Approved
2006-10-12 at 12:20:47	CDLI	Transliteration	CDLI	CDLI	Approved
2001-12-20 at 00:00:00	CDLI	Artifact metadata	CDLI	CDLI	Approved

Cite this Artifacts

“MVN 10, 196 Artifact Entry.” 2001. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). December 20, 2001. https://cdli.earth/P115963.

MVN 10, 196 artifact entry (No. P115963). (2001, December 20). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P115963

MVN 10, 196 artifact entry (2001) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P115963 (Accessed: April 12, 2026).

@misc{2001MVN,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-04-12]},
	year = {2001},
	month = {dec 20},
	title = {MVN 10, 196 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P115963},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P115963},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2001/12/20/
PY  - 2001
ID  - P115963
LB  - CDLI:P115963
M1  - 2026/4/12/
TI  - MVN 10, 196 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P115963
ER  -

Cite this Artifacts

“MVN 10, 196 Artifact Entry.” 2001. Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). December 20, 2001. https://cdli.earth/P115963.

MVN 10, 196 artifact entry (No. P115963). (2001, December 20). Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). https://cdli.earth/P115963

MVN 10, 196 artifact entry (2001) Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative (CDLI). Available at: https://cdli.earth/P115963 (Accessed: April 12, 2026).

@misc{2001MVN,
	note = {[Online; accessed 2026-04-12]},
	year = {2001},
	month = {dec 20},
	title = {MVN 10, 196 artifact entry},
	url = {https://cdli.earth/P115963},
	howpublished = {https://cdli.earth/P115963},
}

TY  - ELEC
DA  - 2001/12/20/
PY  - 2001
ID  - P115963
LB  - CDLI:P115963
M1  - 2026/4/12/
TI  - MVN 10, 196 artifact entry
UR  - https://cdli.earth/P115963
ER  -