Liste der archaischen Keilschriftzeichen

Liste der archaischen Keilschriftzeichen (German: [ˈlɪstə deːɐ̯ ʔaʁˈçaːɪʃn̩ ˈkaɪlʃʁɪftˌtsaɪçn̩]; "list of archaic cuneiform signs"), abbreviated LAK, is a dictionary of Sumerian cuneiform signs of the Fara period (Early Dynastic IIIa, c. 25th century BC short chronology, 26th century BC middle chronology),^[2] published in 1922 by German sumerologist and theologian P. Anton Deimel (1865–1954). The list enumerates 870 distinct cuneiform signs.

LAK-617 (U+12501), a sign in the shape of five boxes arranged as a cross; it is used as a compositional element, the central box being used as a container for an additional sign in LAK-618 to LAK-627. LAK-617 on its own also had an (unknown) phonetic value, used in the spelling of a theonym read as ^dNin-[LAK-617]-la.^[1]

The sign inventory in the archaic period was considerably larger than the standard inventory of the later Akkadian (2350 to 2100) or Neo-Sumerian (Ur III) (21st century; all dates short chronology) periods. This means that numerous signs identified by their classical reading continue several distinct signs of the pre-classical period. If it is necessary to identify the pre-classical sign intended, its LAK number is customarily given, in the form of LAK-1 to LAK-870.

Deimel also published a Sumerian dictionary (Šumerisches Lexikon) in 1928.

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  Proto-cuneiform tablet, Jemdet Nasr period, c. 3100–2900 BC.
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  Proto-cuneiform tablet, Jemdet Nasr period, c. 3100–2900 BC. A dog on a leash is visible in the background of the lower panel.^[3]
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  The Blau Monuments combine proto-cuneiform characters and illustrations, 3100–2700 BC. British Museum.