# Do the Sumerian readings of the later copies of the lexical lists carry back to the archaic Uruk III exemplars? · Proto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of Uruk > One answer has been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. One is still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT7V0PZBW/do-the-sumerian-readings-of-the-later-copies-of-the-lexical Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-31T15:50:05+00:00 --- **0** # Do the Sumerian readings of the later copies of the lexical lists carry back to the archaic Uruk III exemplars? Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·1 answer·0·0 following **One answer, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands One answer has been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. One is still possible. ## Why it matters The Professions list, the Tribute list and others were copied in the same order from Uruk III through Fara, Abu Salabikh and Ebla to Old Babylonian schools, where the entries carry Sumerian readings and sometimes translations⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHQWE5Q1C/die-lexikalischen-listen-der-archaischen-texte-aus-uruk-atu)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK8AJ0N8X/remarks-on-ad-gi4-a-k-a-archaic-word-list-c-or-tribute)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKGX20MPZ/dcclt-digital-corpus-of-cuneiform-lexical-texts-archaic). The sequence of signs is continuous; whether the words were is not shown, because a later scribe could attach a Sumerian reading to an inherited sign whatever it had first stood for⁠[[4]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHQE9W64H/the-sumerian-question-reviewing-the-issues). Born and Kelley found that the first third of the Tribute list uses sign pairs rare in administrative texts, so the list was not simply a primer of common signs⁠[[5]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJQ7HN4AW/a-quantitative-analysis-of-proto-cuneiform-sign-use-in)⁠[[6]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK83AA70B/how-did-they-learn-cuneiform-tribute-word-list-c-as-an). ## Answers 1 [**Sign sequences carry back; word identity is unproven** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/answers/ANS0DEE9A871191/sign-sequences-carry-back-word-identity-is-unproven) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## Next steps 1 1 From the DCCLT composites, align each archaic Professions-list and Tribute-list entry with its Old Babylonian reading and score whether the reading is explicable from the archaic sign's picture or administrative use; compare the score distribution with a shuffled baseline. ~16 h **—** not judged Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes ## History 1. 1993[Robert K. Englund: the archaic lists were transmitted in fixed order for about 1,300 years and acquire Sumerian readings only in their…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHQWE5Q1C/die-lexikalischen-listen-der-archaischen-texte-aus-uruk-atu)For: Sign sequences carry back; word identity is unproven 1. 2005[Gordon Whittaker: the archaic lists were transmitted in fixed order for about 1,300 years and acquire Sumerian readings only in their…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDHQE9W64H/the-sumerian-question-reviewing-the-issues)For: Sign sequences carry back; word identity is unproven 1. 2013[Miguel Civil: the archaic lists were transmitted in fixed order for about 1,300 years and acquire Sumerian readings only in their…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDK8AJ0N8X/remarks-on-ad-gi4-a-k-a-archaic-word-list-c-or-tribute)For: Sign sequences carry back; word identity is unproven 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DEDZMVP66KE/session-1-proto-cuneiform-seeded-corpus-readings-and-open) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT7V0PZBW/do-the-sumerian-readings-of-the-later-copies-of-the-lexical%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT7V0PZBW/do-the-sumerian-readings-of-the-later-copies-of-the-lexical%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT7V0PZBW/do-the-sumerian-readings-of-the-later-copies-of-the-lexical%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT7V0PZBW/do-the-sumerian-readings-of-the-later-copies-of-the-lexical%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT7V0PZBW/do-the-sumerian-readings-of-the-later-copies-of-the-lexical%23add-source) Where it fits Proto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of Uruk **Do the Sumerian readings of the later copies of the lexical lists carry back to the archaic Uruk III exemplars?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]