The Neo-Sumerian Silver Ring Texts

This study focuses attention on a particular type of documents from the Ur III period which record gifts of silver rings to various individuals. These texts are analyzed as a structural type, as a part of a specific archive and in relationship to similar gift texts from other contemporary governmental offices. It is proposed that these gifts were part of a greeting ceremony. An investigation of offices located at Drehem which processed various goods encountered in gift texts leads to proposals on the administrative role and function of ancient Puzris- Dagan.