The tablet contains 29 lines of Sumerian cuneiform on obverse and reverse and also has cylinder seal impressions on the reverse above the date and on upper, lower and left-hand edges. It is dated to the year in the reign of Damiq-ilishu, king of Isin in southern Mesopotamia, c. 1817-1794 B. C., but the precise date in his reign cannot yet be established, for lack of a list of year names covering the whole reign.

Translation:


2 musar of neglected land, land Ahatum, Nabi-Shamash, Nishinishu and Ipiq-Ersetum, adjacent to (land of) Beli-tayyar:
2 shekels of silver were weighed out as its full price. Ibbi-Ninshubur, son of Puzur-Ninkarrak, purchased it from Ahatam, Nabi-Shamash, Ipqu-Ersetum and Ninshinishu, children of Sin-gamil.
In the future Ahatum, Nabi-Shamash, Ipqu-Ersetum and Nishinishu, children of Sin-gamil, may not claim the land. They swore by the king.

In the presence of Ta……, son of Shu-Isha Ili-bani, son of Yadda-waqa Sin-eresh, son of Ubar-Bab Nanna-ME-BARA, son of Ahi-waqa Ilum-milik, son of Nanay
Seal inscription:
Ahatu Wife of Sin-gami
Month: Iyar, year: Damiq-ili the king installed Ninzi-anna.


The tablet is in excellent condition for the obverse, but there is a little damage to the reverse involving the list of witnesses. The ancient scribe took a short cut in one respect: the property sold was jointly owned by a woman (Ahatum) and three men, and all four in the wording of the document are described as children of Sin-gamil, but only one seal inscription is rolled, that of Ahatum, “wife of Sin-gamil.” The seal is no doubt correct, and the scribe saved himself trouble by making mother and three sons all “children of Sin-gamil.” The installation in the year name refers to a high priestess.

Description and translation kindly provided by Professor W. G. Lamber