Selected Babylonian Business and Legal Documents of the Hammurabi Period
Arthur Ungnad
Source: Google Books
The study of the early Babylonian business and legal documents was inaugurated by the publication of about a hundred texts falling within this category by J. N. Stbassmaibr). These tablets had been discovered by W. E. LoFTUS at Tell-Sifir near the ancient town of Larsa (now Senkereh), in the southern part of Babylonia. They belonged to the reigns of Nur-Bamman Bim-Sin Hammurabi and Samsuiluna. The style and writing of these documents offered considerable difficulties, so that it was necessary to wait for more material, before a better understanding of the contents could be expected. This material was gained through purchases made by Dr. E. A. Walms BuDaB who, on his travels in Babylonia, acquired for the British Museum a large number of old Babylonian business documents (1888). A thorough study of these tablets enabled B. Mbibsnbr to prepare a volume which must be considered the groundwork of all further researches concerning this subject.