Clay Foundation Cone: Old Babylonian Period Cuneiform Inscription

Small clay cone with cuneiform inscription written in Sumerian. A foundation deposit of Sin-kashid, an Amorite (a west Semitic speaking tribe) ruler of Uruk during the Old Babylonian period (2000-1600 B.C.E.), commemorating the building of his palace. Little is known about Sin-kashid, outside of his numerous building inscriptions. Almost all make reference to his construction work on the Eanna ("The Temple of Heaven"), as in the example here. Text reads: {d}Suen-ka3-ši-id / nita kala-ga / lugal unu-ki-ga / lugal Am-na-nu-um / u2-a e2-an-n[a] / ud e2-an-na / mu-du3-a / e2-gal / nam-lugal-la-ka-ni / mu-du3 Sin-kashid, mighty man, ruler of Uruk, king of the Amnanum, provider for the Eanna-temple, when he built the Eanna, he built his royal palace.