Sharecropping agreement / joint agricultural venture

The document starts by describing how A and B pool together their resources to work a plot of land. B contributes one ox (alpu) and two agricultural workers (errēšu); A two agricultural workers and the field (eqlu) that is to be cultivated. It then continues by regulating the division of labour, costs and income. It is agreed that they(!) will perform all agricultural work together (itti aḫameš dullu ippuš<ū>), share (aḫameš inaddinū) the input costs, namely the expenses for barley seed (uṭṭaṭu ana zēri) and ox fodder (kissatu ša alpi), and bear joint responsibility for the proper care of the oxen (suddû ša alpi). They will have equal shares (aḫata šunu) in the harvest (mimma mala ina eqli illâ), but clearly, this arrangement was achieved after quite some discussion between the parties as reflected in the rather cumbersome formulation given to it by the scribe. A is entitled to a quarter share (rebû zittu) because he contributed the land – hence, he is labelled in this context "landowner" (bēl eqli)(*). B agreed to invest his ox and farmers (alpu u errēšū ša B … B inaddin) in exchange for a quarter share in the proceeds similar to A's quarter share (kūm rebî zitti ša A ina zēri ikkalu). These major issues being settled, the document concludes by addressing some issues of irrigation that might arise in the course of farming the land: A guarantees up till a certain day (adi […]) for something (uncl.)(**) that is related to the water reservoir (ṣibittu ša mê), and together they should act to satisfy (itti aḫameš sullumu)(***) the canal inspector (gugallu ša nāri). Each party to the agreement has taken a copy. Names of 4 witnesses and the scribe: Iddin-Bēl/Kalbaya(//Dābibī)

Notes: (*) The identification of the anonymous "landowner" in this passage about a fourth-share is open to discussion. Our identification with A is based on ll. 12-13 which refer to "a fourth-share of A". Note that "landowner" does not necessarily mean the ultimate legal owner of the land, but can also refer to the actual holder of a plot of land (e.g. leasees). (**)The verb is probably ṣabātu (wr. iṣ-┌ṣab-bat┐[collated]), in the meaning "to start to work", CAD Ṣ: 21 mng. 5. (***)Wr. (collated): ┌ú┐-sal-lu-┌mu?┐. For this meaning of the verb, see CAD S: 92, s.v. salāmu, D-stem, mng. C.

A= Ahīqam/Rapā-Yāw; B= Erībaya/Ṣillaya