The collection consists of six Sumerian cuneiform tablets originating from sites including Drehem, Jokha, and Senkereh in ancient Mesopotamia, along with associated documentation. Five tablets measure approximately 1.5 by 1.5 inches and contain administrative texts such as receipts for livestock, temple offering records, and a sealed temple document. One tablet measures approximately 4 by 6.5 inches and has no transcription. Translations accompanying the tablets provide basic information on date, place of origin, and content. South Dakota State College President Willis E. Johnson purchased five of the tablets from Edgar J. Banks in 1923. The sixth tablet was transferred from the South Dakota Agricultural Heritage Museum. Supporting materials include correspondence, clippings, antiquities law references, research notes, manuscripts, photographs, maps, exhibit documentation, and information related to other institutional collections and the UCLA Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative. The collection spans from ancient Mesopotamian history to modern research activities conducted primarily in 2002 and 2003.
The collection provides primary source evidence of economic, religious, and administrative practices in ancient Mesopotamia through original Sumerian cuneiform tablets. It documents early twentieth century antiquities collecting practices in the United States through the acquisition of the tablets by South Dakota State College from Edgar J. Banks. The associated research and exhibit materials reflect modern scholarly and educational efforts to interpret, contextualize, and present ancient writing systems and Near Eastern history to academic and public audiences.
