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Title: Annus Simaškensis
Subtitle: L'usage des noms d'année pendant la période simaškéenne (ca. 1930-1880 av. notre ère) à Suse
Author(s): DE GRAEF, Katrien
Journal: Iranica Antiqua
Volume: 43    Date: 2008   
Pages: 67-87
DOI: 10.2143/IA.43.0.2024042

Abstract :
Apart from the texts mentioning an Ur III year name, thirty-one texts originating from Susa bear a year formula “after Mesopotamian model” (MU … (RN) …). Thirteen of these mention the Simaškean ruler Ebarat I and can thus be dated within the Simaškean dynasty. One of them mentions the Sukkalmaḫs Pala-iššan and Kuk-Kirwaš and can thus be dated at the beginning of the Sukkalmaḫat. One of them originates from the excavation of chantier B by Ghirshman and can thus be dated archaeologically. The other texts, however, bear year formulae lacking the name of a ruler. None of these year formulae are known Ur III or Old-Babylonian year formulae. The question thus arises to which dynasty or period and/or rulers these year formulae can be attributed. This article presents our hypothesis that they should be attributed to the Simaški period (ca. 1930-1880 BCE). We further explore to what extent this hypothesis can contribute to our knowledge of the chronology and history of the Simaškean dynasty, the transition between the Ur III domination and the institutionalisation of the Sukkalmaḫat in Susa. The texts that are currently in the Louvre, are collated. A transliteration, translation and handcopy of the discussed passages (in casu the yearnames) is added.

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