Ur III dairies: 5 (2024-08-09)

Created by: Englund, Robert K.

Totals of the dairy account AO 5499 indicate the numbers of cows and bulls or oxen together with all theoretical deliveries of dairy products for Šulgi 39-49 (ca. 2050-2040 BC).

At the conclusion of the ten-year period of this theoretical account, the ideal herd that began with four adult cows and two calves had, based on the Ur III norm of adding to the managed herd one calf for each two adult cows, grown to 32 head. Any additional calves would have been ceded to the herders of this enterprise. During the ten years, these herders were, in addition to the calves added to the herd, to have delivered to the herd owner a total of 275 liters of butter oil and 412.5 liters of kašk cheese. Following the implicit exchange rate of ten liters of butter oil and 150 liters of kašk cheese per shekel of silver, our accountant further registered a silver equivalent of 27.33 and 2.75 shekels of silver, respectively, for the two products. A shekel weighed ca. 8.5 grams. CDLI entry: P131589.

credit: Englund, Robert K.