“kišib-gu10 zi-ra-ab”: Annul my Sealed Tablet!

Abstract The practice of annulling or destroying written documents is well documented during the III Dynasty of Ur (2112–2004 BC), where several documents record the expression “kišib PN zi-re-dam,” the sealed document is to be annulled/destroyed. This practice is recorded in three different types of administrative documents: loan texts, “orders” requesting the annulment of another document, and documents whose annulment takes place only after another document has arrived. The aim of this article is to study the documents that record this practice and to provide a description of the administrative procedures related to the annulment of documents during the III Dynasty of Ur.