1000-500 BC. A repaired fragment of a limestone bifacial tablet with cuneiform inscription; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: Fragment of Black Stone Tablet 37 x 57 mm. This is the upper right-hand corner of the complete tablet, made up of five pieces joining. On each side there are the ends of three lines, all containing only numbers. The complete tablet was a list of the months of the year, down the let-hand side, with the numbers of lucky days in each month extending in each line to the right-hand edge. What we have is therefore the ends of the lists of lucky days for the first three and the last three months of the year, as follows: Translation [Nisan: .....]4, 16,23 1/2 / [Ayar: ...] , 19 21, 24, 26, 28? 29 / [Simanu: ......28, 2[....] **** [?ebetu ....29, 30 / [Shabatu: ...] ...26, 28, 30 / [Addar: ....] 17, 22, 23, 26, 27(?), 29. This is either a Babylonian or an Assyrian tablet, since in both countries belief in lucky and unlucky days of the month was normal. The date of this fragment cannot be settled definitely, but c. 1000-500 B.C. is no doubt the correct period. 21 grams, 57mm (2 1/4"). From an important North London collection formed before 1980. This lot is part of a single collection of cylinder seals and tablets which were examined in the 1980s by Professor Lambert and most are accompanied by his own detailed notes; the collection has recently been reviewed by Dr. Ronald Bonewitz.

Fair condition, repaired.