初期王朝時代末のエミに於ける運河工事に就いて

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to study the canal-work of the É-MÍ “Queen's House” according to the following points:1) Who is the supervisor on canal-work?2) Where are the locations of the canal-work?3) What are kinds of the canal-work?4) What sort of men are the workers of the canal-work?The texts of the canal-work are roughly classified into three types: gíd-, dab5- and dù-type. The gíd “to measure” type texts may be written before working, for the purpose of measuring the points and sections where the canal-work must be done. The dù “to work” type texts may be written after working for certifying the completion of the canal-work. The dab5 “to assign” which seems to include or continue the gíd “to measure”, its type text is only one in the Lagaš materials.As the agents of these verbs (gíd, dù and dab5) are, except the ruler himself in one text, all nu-bànda, the management of the canal-work of the É-MÍ is able to decided for one of the duties of nu-bànda.In comparing the workers of the canal-work with the receivers of “še-ba lú-kur6-dab5-ba, ” it is clear that only lú-kur6-dab5-ba are engaged in the cana-work except two people (Ur-é-mùš, Lugalidigna).The canal-work are done on many places, that is, e “canal”—the most times—, íd “river”, KU-KU “Staudamm”, nag-ku5 “reservoir” and ù-tir“?”.It is kinds of the canal-work that is al-dù “to dig with hoe”, šu-luh-ak “to dredge, ” and zi-du “to provide a canal with weirs.” These works are unusual and are rare.Basing upon an analysis DP641, the canal-work in general denotes “to weed in a canal” and “to elevate earth from a canal”, which repeats itself in every year for the purpose of maintaining the irrigation systems of the É-MÍ.