An Assessment of Tracking Lost Livestock According to Sumerian Cuneiform Texts

This article examines how cases of lost livestock were recorded, investigated, and compen-sated within the bureaucratic apparatus of Sumer by analysing cuneiform archives from the Ur III period (2112–2004 BCE). It focuses on three interrelated document types: ration lists, which first register the loss; investigation dockets, which detail the cause, the responsi-ble parties, and witness statements; and compensation tablets, which formalise restitution either by an animal in kind or by its barley equivalent. Terms such as “gu₄ gaz” and “udu sikil” simultaneously denote the quantitative deficit and its juridical status, thereby ensuring institutional consistency. The study shows that oaths, sureties, and a double entry technique reinforced administrative transparency, while compensation calculations were shaped by social status. In theft (gazi) cases, indemnities could rise to 150 percent of the ordinary value, highlighting the system’s deterrent function. Ultimately, incidents of lost livestock served a critical role not only in stock control but also in maintaining social hier-archy and bureaucratic legitimacy within the Sumerian economy. These findings demon-strate that Sumerian administrative practice developed a sophisticated system that inte-grated quantitative oversight with legal financial enforcement inside a unified documen-tary chain.