verse and reverse. From the catalogue number it may be assumed that this tablet was ex-
cavated from Babylon or Borsippa in late 1880 or early 1881.^229 If the former, the tablet
may have been uncovered at the Ninmah Temple near Babylon’s Ishtar gate. If the latter,
the tablet may have come from the Nabu Temple at Borsippa where excavations were
conducted in late 1880.^230
V, BM33791
This fragment from the obverse of a four column tablet is written in Neo-Babylonian
script. Like tablet N above, this tablet was is probably from Babylon as this was the only
site being worked at the time the tablet was acquired.
W, BM33728
This was most likely originally a four column tablet. The flake from the right edge of the
obverse is written in Neo-Babylonian script, as is indicated by the signs DUḪ (line 6),
GU 4 and NA (line 12). The signs are typically 4mm to 6mm in height and not always
neatly written. There are no ruled margins or horizontal lines visible, and in some places
the writing appears to extend beyond the right margin (see line 12 and possibly line 14).
The tablet is approximately 1.5cm to 1.8cm thick at its right edge. The clay that remains
is quite free of impurities and is a light terracotta colour throughout. From the museum
(^229) Catalogue numbers BM40462 to 41389 were received at the British Museum on the 28 (^) th April 1881, and
the time that it generally took a shipment to reach the museum after leaving Baghdad was around two
months (see J.E. Reade, "Rassam's Babylonian Collection," xxv-xxvi). 230
See J.E. Reade, "Rassam's Babylonian Collection," xxi-xxii.