Cuneiform Tablet: Old Assyrian Legal Text

Small rectangular clay tablet with cuneiform writing. The tablet is inscribed on both sides with ruled lines of text written in the Old Assyrian dialect of the Akkadian language. The tablet probably comes from the trading colony (karum) by the mound of Kültepe (ancient Kanesh) near Kaiseri in Cappadocia (central Anatolia). The text deals with an amount of refined silver entrusted to Assur-malik for transport, followed by the names of three witnesses with patronymics. Text reads: (1-5) 10 minas, 4 shekels of refined silver, its šaddutum-tax paid (and) which belongs to Šalim-ahum, (6-8) I entrusted to Aššur-malik, son of Usanaya. (9-10) Before Puzur-Ištar, son of Aššur-malik. (11-12) Before Iddi-Suen, son of Šu-Ištar. (13-14) Before Puzur-Aššur, [so]n of Elia. IMAGE: Bottom row, second from left.