Early Dynastic Period Literature

The Early Dynastic period is often divided into three basic phases:

1. Phase I (2900–2700 bc)

2. Phase II (2700–2600 bc)

3. Phase IIIa and IIIb (2600–2350 bc)

Archaeologists have not yet recovered materials bearing the names of Phase I kings. One of the most apparent differences in administrative material culture between Phase I and II are in style shifts in cylinder-seal production: Phase I cylinder seals were slenderer than the later Phase II cylinder seals; Phase II cylinder seals were engraved with different scene types than Phase I cylinder seals.

Historical sources first appear in the archaeological record during the early part of the Early Dynastic period. The genres of these sources include:

• administrative documents

• ritual texts

• political narratives

• royal inscriptions

• stories

• mythological texts

The following numbers of tablets have been discovered from urban centers in the Early Dynastic period:

• over 200 administrative tablets at Ur (2800 bc/Phase I)

• over 1,000 administrative tablets at Tell Fara (Shuruppak; 2500 bc/Phase III)

• over 500 administrative tablets at Abu Salabikh (2500 bc/Phase III)

• over 1,500 administrative tablets at Lagash (2400 bc/Phase III)

• over 40 tablets discovered at Mari (eastern Syria; Phase III)

• over 150 tablets at Tell Baydar (northeastern Syria; Phase III)

• over 3600 tablets (of varying genres) at Ebla (northwestern Syria; Phase III)