Duhaime's LawGallery - The Law In Pictures Sumerian Court Judgment 2100 BC Object type: Document Formal Title: Sumerian Court Judgment, c. 2100-2000 BC Creator: unknown Mesopotamian Date Created: 2100 Origin: Mesopotamia (now Iraq-Iran) Current Location: London Museum, London This clay tablet, dated at about 2100 BC, represents one of the earliest examples of jurisprudence. Translated, the cuneiform script on this tablet refers to a legal dispute over a daughter sold by her father as a slave for 2.5 "shekels" (just under an ounce; 21 grams). Cuneiform is the world's earliest known written language. The use of a written language contributed significantly to the foundation of written and predictable law, and thus to peace and order in society. The Sumerians often wrote on clay which was time-consuming but long-lasting. Because of this, this sample of their court's "wisdom" survives. This page has been viewed 11871 times.