This document, engraved on a small broken slab of basalt, is dated from
the first year of the reign of Marduk-idin-akhe. It was discovered long
ago in the small mound of Za'aleh, on the left bank of the Euphrates, a
few miles northwest of Babylon. The text forms two columns of cursive
Babylonian characters; the first column is extremely damaged. Though
defaced, this contract offers some interest by its differing from other
documents of the aforesaid reign. It has been published in the first
volume of the collection of the British Museum ("W.A.I.," pl. 66), and
translated for the first time by Dr. Oppert, "_Expédition en Mésopotamie_"
t. i, p. 253.