Page 98 - DILMUN 12

Around 2500 BC Dilmun is first referred to as a supplier of wood, by Urnanschc, King of
Lagash*. His successors, Lugalanda and Uri’inimgina (before 2350 BC) dispensed various
textiles, resins, oil and silver out of the state storehouses to merchants of Lagash. The
merchants were to trade the goods in Dilmun for copper and other wares, such as bulbs, linen,
resin and bronze “marine spoons". It is known, that at this time single ships sailed from Elam
to Lagash; the written sources would however imply that Mesopotamian merchants carried
out over-seas trade with Dilmun, or indeed may even have been the original initiators of such
trading systems.

During the succeeding Old Akkadian Period (2334 - 2394 BC) the Mesopotamians are no
longer the only traders to visit Dilmun. The seas arc open to all countries and sea merchants
from the distant lands of Dilmun, Mcluhha and Makan tic up at Akkad’s quay, during Sargon’s
reign (2334 - 2279 BC). Copper is shipped directly from Makan; people from Meluhha arc
mentioned in written sources as translators and seamen. During the reign of Gudea of Lagash,
copper, dioritc and wood were delivered from Makan, and Meluhha delivered rare woods,
gold, tin, lapislazuli and carncol to Lagash. Naramsin wars against Makan; Mesopotamia
strives for predominance in the area.

The Ur tablets (“Ur III Period’’, 2112-4 BC) testify that the Gulf was no longer an open
sea. Ships travel to and fro between Ur and Makan, bringing produce from Makan-bulbs,
goats, oil wood, reed and copper. Dilmun is now scarcely used as a port of call. During trips to
Makan, obviously products of Meluhha were loaded: some copper and mainly rare woods,
such as Sisso wood. There are no records indicating that ships from Meluhha docked in Sumer,
or that Sumerian seafarers were themselves in Meluhha10. Ships from Makan also did not sail
to the North. It appears that one or more trading centers in Makan were visited during the
voyages, where Makan wares — chiefly copper — and luxury items from Meluhha were
bartered. Therefore it appears that many wares referred to in the written sources as “Makan
goods’’, actually were materials originally brought from Meluhha. Through transshipment in
Makan, these goods were then later referred to as coming from Makan; the same confusion
occurs later with materials from Dilmun. It is important to stress this point of confusion, as
older discussions of trade-routes and the location of Makan based their conclusions on the fact
that Sisso wood was presumed to come from the Makran coast and Meluhha. Even at present,
the trading center used by the Sumerian merchants in Makan — where goods from Makan and
Meluhha were bartered — is not known. A cogent premise for the location ofsuch a port — or
landing place — would be a location on the southern Gulf Coast in the United Arabian
Emirates. The period of Sumerian sea traffic to Makan covers approximately 100 years, so
that it is difficult to estimate what kind of archaeological remains could be found or expected.

At the end of the Ur III Period, in the reign of Ibbisin (2028 - 2004 BC), the point of
interest again changes and his ships drop anchor at Dilmun.

It is clear that the merchants sailing to Makan also visited Dilmun, probably to obtain
fresh water. About 2000 BC (Old Babylonian Period, 2017 - 1712 BC), the inhabitants of
Dilmun had apparently been able to utilize their strategic position on the sea lanes. The island
rose from a simple refuelling station to a merchant power, controlling the sea traffic in the
Gulf. The island Failaka in the North was taken over as part of the control network. “Control’’
should be understood as meaning that no Sumerian merchants could sail directly to Makan, as
they had done in the previous century. Merchants from Makan and Meluhha could no longer
sail directly to Sumer, without stopping at Dilmun. It seems as if Dilmun had taken over the
function of an emporium; merchants coming from the southeast had to unload their wares at
Dilmun. Dilmun’s merchants then transferred these to traders from the north; the lucrative

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