Position in chronology
MDP 06, 238
Translation · reference
ExperimentalSource: CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008035.
Translation · AI engine
read from photoObverse (face A): [Commodity M157], [Commodity M195+M038~a]: M249~n1 [with] M288, 4 large units (N14) M134~e, 3 large units (N14) [Commodity M218+M218], 5 basic units (N01) M158, 1 large unit + 3 basic units (N14 + 3×N01) M180, 1 large unit + 3 basic units (N14 + 3×N01) M075~b, 3 large units + 2 basic units (3×N14 + 2×N01) M348 [with] M288, [5 large units] + 5 basic units ([5×N14] + 5×N01) M288, 1 highest-order unit + 4 large units + 1 basic unit (N45 + 4×N14 + 1×N01) M348 [with] M288, 5 large units + 5 basic units (5×N14 + 5×N01) Reverse (face B): [Signs including what appears to be M158 or similar commodity sign] [Circular impression — possibly N14 or N45 numeral] [Sequence of small round impressions — N01 numerals] [Additional commodity signs partially legible] [Further rows of small round impressions — N01 numerals] [Bottom portion: broken/lacunose]
4 uncertain terms ↓
- M157, M195+M038~a, M134~e, M218+M218, M158, M180, M075~b, M348, M288 — These are proto-cuneiform pictographic commodity signs from the Uruk/Jemdet Nasr corpus. Their precise referents (specific foodstuffs, animals, craft goods, institutional categories?) are largely undetermined. The M-number designations are from the CDLI/Englund sign list for proto-cuneiform. None has a firmly agreed Sumerian or Akkadian reading.
- N14, N01, N45 — These are numerical impression signs. N01 is the small round impression (basic unit = '1' in many systems). N14 is a larger round impression (conventionally = 10× N01 in the sexagesimal system, but the exact multiplier varies by commodity metrological system — could represent 6, 10, or other values). N45 is an even higher-order impressed sign, representing a still larger unit whose value in this specific context is uncertain.
- M249~n1# — The '#' diacritic in the transliteration signals a damaged or uncertain sign reading. This sign may be a variant of M249 but cannot be confirmed with certainty from the photograph.
- |M218+M218|# — A compound sign formed by doubling M218, again marked as uncertain (#). Doubling of pictographic signs often indicates plurality or a derived category of the base commodity, but the specific semantic function here is unknown.
Reasoning ↓
Visual examination of the photograph (Layer 1): The tablet is broken into at least two main joining fragments plus edge pieces; it is photographed showing both face A (obverse, upper image with edges) and face B (reverse, lower image). The clay surface is heavily worn and pitted, with many signs partially eroded. On face A I can discern: in the upper register, a diamond/lozenge-shaped sign (consistent with a proto-cuneiform pictograph such as M249 or similar), what appears to be a rectangular complex sign at upper left, and several vertical strokes and horizontal groupings that correspond to the transliterated numerical impressions. The cluster of small round holes (N01) in the left column and larger round impressions (N14/N45) are visible, consistent with the transliteration's numerical entries. On face B (reverse), a sequence of small round drill-holes in a vertical column is clearly visible on the left margin, consistent with N01 impressions; above them a larger circular impression is visible (possibly N14 or N45), and at the top left a diagonal-stroked sign (possibly M158 or related). The right half of the reverse is largely blank or eroded, with black staining obscuring several signs. Cross-check: The numerical impressions on both faces broadly align with the transliteration's N01 and N14 counts. The commodity signs (M157, M195+M038~a, M134~e, etc.) cannot be individually verified with certainty from the photograph at this resolution — the pictographs are worn and the sign values are not firmly established even in the scholarly literature. The museum number '238' in red ink is legible on the edge fragment. No published standard transliteration tradition exists for these Uruk-period proto-cuneiform signs that would allow high-confidence verification; the MDP 06 corpus (Mémoires de la Délégation en Perse) is the primary publication. Confidence is low because: (1) proto-cuneiform sign readings are inherently uncertain, (2) commodity identifications for most M-signs remain debated, (3) the photo resolution and surface erosion prevent sign-by-sign confirmation.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · prompt 2026-05-12/v4-interpretation · May 14, 2026 · 2008 in / 1515 out tokens
Why it matters
Transliteration
[M157] , |M195+M038~a| M249~n1# M288 , 4(N14) M134~e , 3(N14) |M218+M218|# , 5(N01) M158 , 1(N14) 3(N01) M180 , 1(N14) 3(N01) M075~b , 3(N14)# 2(N01) M348 M288 , [5(N14)] 5(N01) M288 , 1(N45) 4(N14) 1(N01) M348 M288 , 5(N14) 5(N01)#
Scholarly note
Catalogue entry from CDLI (Proto-Elamite (ca. 3100-2900 BC)) — MDP 06, 238. No scholarly translation has been published; the transliteration is from the ATF (CDLI's Atf-Friendly format).
Attribution
Image: Louvre Museum, Paris, France (P008035) — Photo via Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. source
Translation excerpted from CDLI raw catalogue, no published translation. P-number P008035..
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Related sources
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