The Reconstruction Of The Archive Of Sulgi-aamu, The Cattle And Flock Official Of The Animal Center Of Ur-Ⅲ Dynasty

Assyriology is the study of ancient Mesopotamia and neighboring areas, whichincludes Sumeriology, Hittitology and so on. In the Sumeriology, it is very importantfor the research on the politics and economics of Ur Ⅲ dynasty, which is the mostbrilliant period in Sumerian Civilization.In order to dominate the whole country, the second term king ulgi of Ur Ⅲdynasty established a large animal tribute center at his38thyear’s dominance. It isused to receive and manage the animals and other goods which the magistrate tributeto the central government, and withdraw animals and goods as well. This animaltribute center located at Drehem site in modern Iraq, naming é-Puzrish-Dagan incuneiform texts. It played an important role in the system of national economicmanagement in Ur Ⅲ dynasty.The work in this paper is to reconstruct the documents of ulgi-aamu, who wasthe official in the tribute animal center. There are488texts of the archives ofulgi-aamu being presented in this paper. The texts of the archive of ulgi-aamu arelisted according to the chronological order, and presented in three languages:1)Sumerian transliterations,2) English translations, and3) Chinese translations.According to the reconstruction and analysis, we come to the conclusion as follows:a). from40vi to AS1i, ulgi-aamu probably worked as the assistant of Nasa andAhuni. b). from AS1xi/1to AS6iii/7, ulgi-aamu began to take the new bornanimals at Naqabtum. At the same time he took the animal from Abba-sagga as well.Additionally he sent the dead or slaughtered animals to the kitchen officials whomanaging dead animals, such as Ur-ni ar and ulgi-urumu. He also withdrew theanimals for the sacrifice of gods, festivals, ancestor, nobles, and for foreigners, and tothe kitchen for soldiers and others. c). after his retiring from the animal tribute center,he delivered some animals to the animal tribute center. However, there are merelyseveral tablets recording his delivery.Through the reconstruction and analysis of the archive of ulgi-aamu, we canclearly see the basic work of main officials and the administration of the tributeanimal center, and the foundational profession and duty of ulgi-aamu, whichcontributes to provide primeval and trustworthy documentary testimony for theresearch of the tribute animal center and the politics, economics, religion anddiplomacy of Ur Ⅲ dynasty. It also provides reliable documental foundamentation forstudying the elementary social form of Sumerian country.