19th-16th century BC. A terracotta foundation nail with domed top and flange, eight delineated panels with incised cuneiform inscription translated as 'For Ningirsu / mighty warrior / of Enlil / Gudea / ruler of Lagash / produced everything appropriate / and built for him / Eninnu, his shining Imdugud bird, and restored it'. 260 grams, 14cm (5 1/2"). Part of a specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman; examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s; this small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples; accompanied by a copy of Professor Lambert’s notes.