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Document source description

From a unique group of early documents recording the transfer of land (in this case one "bur'u," which is around 157 acres), this tablet illustrates the transition from a writing system based on pictures to one where signs represent sounds. The vase and foot are easily recognized but represent sounds rather than objects. In the bottom row, the two wavy lines sprouting plants is the sign for garden.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
68aabee6191a972b
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
11639
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "11639",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/41.219",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Protoliterate Tablet",
    "description": "From a unique group of early documents recording the transfer of land (in this case one \"bur'u,\" which is around 157 acres), this tablet illustrates the transition from a writing system based on pictures to one where signs represent sounds. The vase and foot are easily recognized but represent sounds rather than objects.  In the bottom row, the two wavy lines sprouting plants is the sign for garden.",
    "provenance": "Henry Walters, Baltimore, by 1909 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Sadie Jones (Mrs. Henry Walters), New York, 1931, by inheritance; Joseph Brummer, Paris and New York, 1941, by purchase [Brummer inv. no. N5009]; Walters Art Museum, 1941, by purchase.",
    "date": "ca. 3100-2900 BCE (Late Uruk; Early Dynastic I-II)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/41.219",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
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        "tablets"
    ],
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    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/CUR_41.219_VwA_UK.jpg",
    "imageCount": 9,
    "pageCount": 9,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensions": [
        {
            "units": "cm",
            "width": 6.6,
            "height": 6.6,
            "depth": 2.3
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 2 5/8 x W: 2 5/8 x 7/8 in. (6.6 x 6.6 x 2.3 cm)"
}

Context sent to Scholar

Document identity
{
    "localId": "11639",
    "label": "Protoliterate Tablet",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/41.219"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "11639",
    "sourceUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/41.219",
    "contentType": "object",
    "stage": "normalized",
    "title": "Protoliterate Tablet",
    "description": "From a unique group of early documents recording the transfer of land (in this case one \"bur'u,\" which is around 157 acres), this tablet illustrates the transition from a writing system based on pictures to one where signs represent sounds. The vase and foot are easily recognized but represent sounds rather than objects.  In the bottom row, the two wavy lines sprouting plants is the sign for garden.",
    "provenance": "Henry Walters, Baltimore, by 1909 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Sadie Jones (Mrs. Henry Walters), New York, 1931, by inheritance; Joseph Brummer, Paris and New York, 1941, by purchase [Brummer inv. no. N5009]; Walters Art Museum, 1941, by purchase.",
    "date": "ca. 3100-2900 BCE (Late Uruk; Early Dynastic I-II)",
    "citationUrl": "https://purl.thewalters.org/art/41.219",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Stone",
        "tablets"
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    "iiifBase": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/CUR_41.219_VwA_UK.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/CUR_41.219_VwA_UK.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/art/CUR_41.219_VwA_UK.jpg",
    "imageCount": 9,
    "pageCount": 9,
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    "dimensions": [
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            "height": 6.6,
            "depth": 2.3
        }
    ],
    "dimensionsRaw": "H: 2 5/8 x W: 2 5/8 x 7/8 in. (6.6 x 6.6 x 2.3 cm)"
}
Document source extras
{
    "cul": "Mesopotamian",
    "inscriptions": [
        "[Inscription] On obverse [For transcription",
        "see https://cdli.ucla.edu/P005987]"
    ],
    "med": "red stone",
    "creator_ids": [
        "4252"
    ],
    "collection_ids": [
        "ANE"
    ],
    "exhibition_ids": [
        "13",
        "2507"
    ]
}
Page context
{
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    "url": "https://art.thewalters.org/images/raw/PS4_41.219_Fnt_DD_AT19_13622-tms.jpg",
    "mediaId": "68aabee6191a972b"
}