Editing Larsa

{{Short description|City-state in ancient Sumer}}
{{Distinguish|text = Queen Larsa of the video game ''[[Mushihimesama Futari]]''}}
{{Infobox ancient site
| name = Larsa<br>{{cuneiform|4|𒌓𒀕𒆠}}
|image= {{none}}
|caption=
| map_type = Iraq
| map_alt = 
| map_size = 
| relief = yes
| coordinates = {{Coord|31|17|9|N|45|51|13|E|display=inline,title}}
| location = Tell as-Senkereh, [[Dhi Qar Governorate]], [[Iraq]]
| region = [[Mesopotamia]]
| type = Settlement
| epochs = <!-- actually displays as "Periods" -->
| cultures = 
| occupants =  
| excavations = 
| archaeologists = 
| condition = 
}}
[[File:Hammurabi's Babylonia 1.svg|250px|right|thumb|[[Mesopotamia]] in the time of [[Hammurabi]]]]
'''Larsa''' ({{langx|sux|{{cuneiform|4|𒌓𒀕𒆠}}|translit=UD.UNUG<sup>KI</sup>}},<ref>ETCSL. ''[http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/edition2/etcslgloss.php?lookup=c224.O.222&charenc=gcirc&sn=ON The Lament for Nibru].'' Accessed 19 Dec 2010.</ref> read ''Larsam<sup>ki</sup>''<ref>ETCSL. ''[http://etcsl.orinst.ox.ac.uk/cgi-bin/etcsl.cgi?text=c.4.80.1 The Temple Hymns]''. Accessed 19 Dec 2010.</ref>), also referred to as '''Larancha/Laranchon''' (Gk. Λαραγχων) by [[Berossus|Berossos]] and connected with the biblical [[Arioch|Ellasar]], was an important [[city-state]] of ancient [[Sumer]], the center of the [[Cult (religious practice)|cult]] of the [[sun god]] [[Utu]] with his temple E-babbar. It lies some {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of [[Uruk]] in [[Iraq]]'s [[Dhi Qar Governorate]], near the east bank of the Shatt-en-Nil canal at the site of the modern settlement '''Tell as-Senkereh''' or '''Sankarah'''.

Larsa is thought to be the source of a number of tablets involving [[Babylonian mathematics]], including the [[Plimpton 322]] tablet that contains patterns of [[Pythagorean triples]].<ref>[https://www.maa.org/sites/default/files/pdf/news/monthly105-120.pdf] Robson, Eleanor, "Words and Pictures: New Light on Plimpton 322", The American Mathematical Monthly, vol. 109, no. 2, pp. 105–20, 2002</ref>

==History==
Larsa is found (as UD.UNUG) on [[Proto-cuneiform]] lexical lists from the Uruk 4 period (late 4th millennium BC). A few Proto-cuneiform tablets were also found there.<ref>Charvát, Petr, "From King to God: The NAMEŠDA Title in Archaic Ur", in Organization, Representation, and Symbols of Power in the Ancient Near East: Proceedings of the 54th Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale at Würzburg 20–25 Jul, edited by Gernot Wilhelm, University Park, USA: Penn State University Press, pp. 265-274, 2012</ref> Three Neolithic clay tokens, from a slightly early period, were also found at Larsa.<ref>Schmandt-Besserat, Denise. ''Before writing: From counting to cuneiform'', Vol. II, University of Texas Press, 1992</ref><ref>Overmann, Karenleigh A., ''The Material Origin of Numbers: Insights from the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East'', Piscataway, NJ, USA: Gorgias Press, Table 9.2, pp. 169-170, 2019</ref> For most of its history Larsa was primarily a cult site for the god Utu. In the early part of the 2nd millennium BC the [[Lagash#First dynasty of Lagash(c. 2500–2300 BC)|First Dynasty of Lagash]] made it a major power for perhaps two centuries. The last known occupation was in the [[Hellenistic]] period.

===Early Bronze Age===
====Early Dynastic IIIB====
The historical "Larsa" was already in existence as early as the reign of Early Dynastic ruler [[Eannatum]] of [[Lagash]] (circa 2500–2400 BC), who annexed it to his empire. In a large victory stele found at [[Girsu]] he wrote:
{{blockquote|"... E-anatum was very clever indeed and he made up the eyes of two doves with [[Kohl (cosmetics)|kohl]], and adorned their heads with cedar (resin). For the god Utu, master of vegetation, in the E-babbar at Larsa, he had them offered as sacrificial bulls."<ref name="Frayne1993" >Douglas Frayne, "Lagas", in Presargonic Period: Early Periods, Volume 1 (2700-2350 BC), RIM The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia Volume 1, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 77-293, 2008 ISBN 9780802035868</ref>
}}

A later ruler, [[Entemena]], nephew of Eannatum, is recorded on a foundation cone found at nearby [[Bad-Tibira]] as cancelling the debts of the citizens of Larsa "He cancelled [oblig]ations for the citizens of Uruk, Larsa, and Pa-tibira ... He restored (the second) to the god Utu’s control in Larsa ...".<ref name="Frayne1993" />

====Akkadian period====
Larsa is attested in the Akkadian Empire in the ''[[Temple Hymns]]'' of [[Enheduanna]], daughter of [[Sargon of Akkad]].
{{blockquote|"... Your lord is the soaring sunlight, the ruler ... righteous voice. He lights up the horizon, he lights up the zenith of heaven. Utu, lord of the Shining House,has built a home in your holy court, House of Larsa, and has taken his seat upon your throne."<ref>Helle, Sophus, "The Temple Hymns", in Enheduana: The Complete Poems of the World's First Author, New Haven: Yale University Press, pp. 53-94, 2023</ref>
}}

====Ur III period====
In the Ur III empire period that ended the millennium, its first ruler [[Ur-Nammu]] recorded, in a brick inscription found at Larse, rebuilding the E-babbar temple of Utu there.<ref>Frayne, Douglas, "Ur-Nammu E3/2.1.1". Ur III Period (2112-2004 BC), Toronto: University of Toronto Press, pp. 5-90, 1997</ref>

===Middle Bronze Age===
[[File:Worshipper Larsa Louvre AO15704.jpg|thumb|The [[Worshipper of Larsa]], a votive statuette dedicated to the god [[Amurru (god)|Amurru]] for [[Hammurabi]]'s life, early [[2nd millennium BC]], [[Louvre]]]]
{{main|Isin-Larsa period}}
The city became a political force during the [[Isin-Larsa period]]. After the [[Third Dynasty of Ur]] collapsed c. 2004 BC, [[Ishbi-Erra]], an official of the last king of the Third Dynasty of Ur, [[Ibbi-Sin]], relocated to [[Isin]] and set up a government which purported to be the successor to the Third Dynasty of Ur. From there, Ishbi-Erra recaptured [[Ur]] as well as the cities of [[Uruk]] and Lagash, which Larsa was subject to. Subsequent rulers of Isin appointed governors to rule over Larsa; one such governor was an [[Amorite]] named [[Gungunum]]. He eventually broke with Isin and established an independent dynasty in Larsa. To legitimize his rule and deliver a blow to Isin, Gungunum captured the city of Ur. In his year names he recorded the defeat of the distant [[Anshan]] in Elam as well as city-states closer to Larsa such as [[Malgium]]. As the region of Larsa was the main center of trade via the [[Persian Gulf]], Isin lost an enormously profitable trade route, as well as a city with much cultic significance.

Gungunum's two successors, [[Abisare]] (c. 1905–1894 BC) and [[Sumuel]] (c. 1894–1865 BC), both took steps to cut Isin completely off from access to canals. Isin quickly lost political and economic influence.

[[File:Detail of a terracotta cylinder of Nabonidus, recording the restoration work on the temple of Shamash at Larsa. 555-539 BCE. Probably from Larsa, Iraq, housed in the British Museum.jpg|thumb|Detail of a terracotta cylinder of Nabonidus, recording the restoration work on the temple of Shamash at Larsa. Dated to 555–539 BC. Probably from Larsa, Iraq. Housed in the British Museum]]
Larsa grew powerful, but never accumulated a large territory. At its peak under king [[Rim-Sin I]] (c. 1822–1763 BC), Larsa controlled about 10–15 other city-states. In the latter half of this period the city of [[Mashkan-shapir]] acted as a second capital of the city-state.<ref>Steinkeller, P., "A History of Mashkan-shapir and Its Role in the Kingdom of Larsa", In E. C. Stone & P. Zimansky (eds.), The Anatomy of a Mesopotamian City. Survey and Soundings at Mashkan-shapir, Winona Lake: Eisenbrauns, pp. 26-42, 2004</ref><ref>Ali Ahmed Gadalla, Azza, "The City of Mashkan-Shabir and The Kingdom of Larsa", Annals of the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University 50.13, pp. 294-321, 2022</ref> Nevertheless, huge building projects and agricultural undertakings can be detected archaeologically. After the defeat of Rim-Sin I by [[Hammurabi]] of [[Babylon]], Larsa became a minor site, though it has been suggested that it was the home of the First [[Sealand Dynasty]] of Babylon.<ref>W. G. Lambert, "The Home of the First Sealand Dynasty", [[Journal of Cuneiform Studies]], 26, pp. 208–210, 1974</ref>

===Iron Age===
Larsa was known to be active during the Neo-Babylonian, Achaemenid, and Hellenistic periods based on building brick inscriptions as well as a number of cuneiform texts from the Larsa temple of Samash which were found in Uruk.<ref>Beaulieu, Paul-Alain, "Neo-Babylonian Larsa: A Preliminary Study", Orientalia, vol. 60, no. 2, pp. 58–81, 1991</ref><ref>Boivin, O., "The ilku and Related Fiscal Obligations in Sixth Century Larsa", in: K. Kleber (ed.), Taxation in the Achaemenid Empire (Classica et Orientalia 26), Wiesbaden, pp. 153–176, 2021</ref><ref>Beaulieu, P.-A., "A Finger in Every Pie: The Institutional Connections of a Family of Entrepreneurs in Neo-Babylonian Larsa", in: A.C.V.M. Bongenaar (ed.), Interdependency of Institutions and Private Entrepreneurs: Proceedings of the Second MOS Symposium, Leiden 1998 (PIHANS 87), Leiden, pp. 43–72, 2000</ref><ref>Joannès, F., "Les débuts de l’époque hellénistique à Larsa", in: C. Breniquet/C. Kepinski (ed.), Études mésopotamiennes. Recueil de textes offerts à Jean-Louis Huot, Paris, pp. 249–264, 2001</ref> The E-babbar of Utu/Shamash was destroyed by fire in the 2nd century BC and the area re-used for poorly built private homes.<ref>Lecomte, O., "Stratigraphical analysis and ceramic assemblages of the 4th–1st centuries B. C. E.Babbar of Larsa", in: U. Finkbeiner (ed.), Materialien zur Archäologie der Seleukiden-  und Partherzeit im südlichen  Babylonien und im Golfgebiet, Tübingen, pp. 17–39, 1993</ref> The entire site was abandoned by the 1st century BC.<ref>Westenholz, Aage, "The Graeco-Babyloniaca Once Again", Zeitschrift für Assyriologie und Vorderasiatische Archäologie , vol. 97, no. 2, pp. 262-313, 2007</ref>

==List of rulers==
The following list should not be considered complete:
{|class="wikitable"border="1"style="width:100%;text-align:center"
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
|colspan="5"align="center"style="background-color:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Ur III period]] ({{circa|2119|2004 BC|lk=yes}})'''
|-
|1st
|[[file:Kings_Larsa_Louvre_AO7025.jpg|120px]]
|[[Naplanum]]
|{{reign|c. 2025|c. 2005|era=BC}}<br>([[Middle chronology|MC]])<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1961|c. 1940|era=BC}}<br>([[Short chronology|SC]])</small>
|
*''[[Tempore|temp.]]'' of [[Ibbi-Suen]]
*''temp.'' of [[Ishbi-Erra]]
*May have been an [[Amorite]] of the [[Emutbal|Yamutbal]] tribe
|-
|colspan="5"align="center"style="background-color:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Isin-Larsa period]] ({{circa|2004|1787 BC}})'''
|-
|2nd
|
|[[Emisum]]
|{{reign|c. 2004|c. 1977|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1940|c. 1912|era=BC}}<br>(SC)</small>
|
*Son of Naplanum (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Shu-Ilishu]]
|-
|3rd
|
|[[Samium]]<br>𒊓𒈪𒌝
|{{reign|c. 1976|c. 1942|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1912|c. 1877|era=BC}}<br>(SC)</small>
|
*Son of Emisum (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Iddin-Dagan]]
|-
|4th
|
|[[Zabaia]]
|{{reign|c. 1941|c. 1933|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1877|c. 1868|era=BC}}<br>(SC)</small>
|
*Son of Samium
*''temp.'' of [[Ishme-Dagan]]
*"Zabaya, Chief of the Amorites, son of Samium, rebuilt the Ebabbar"<ref>Weisberg, David B., "Zabaya, an Early King of the Larsa Dynasty", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 41, no. 2, pp. 194–98, 1989</ref>
|-
|5th
|
|[[Gungunum]]<br>𒀭𒄖𒌦𒄖𒉡𒌝
|{{reign|c. 1932|c. 1906|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1868|c. 1841|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(29 years)</small>
|
*Son of Zabaia (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Lipit-Eshtar]]
*Gained independence from [[Isin]]
*Held the title of, ''"[[lugal|King]]"''
|-
|6th
|
|[[Abisare]]<br>𒀀𒉈𒊓𒊑𒂊
|{{reign|c. 1905|c. 1895|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1841|c. 1830|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(11 years)</small>
|
*Son of Gungunum (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Ur-Ninurta]]
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|-
|7th
|[[File:Votive_dog_Louvre_AO4349_n2.jpg|Votive dog in the name of Sumuel. Louvre AO4349|120px]]
|[[Sumuel]]<br>𒋢𒈬𒀭
|{{reign|c. 1894|c. 1866|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1830|c. 1801|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(27 years)</small>
|
*Son of Abisare (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Bur-Suen]]
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|-
|8th
|
|[[Nur-Adad]]
|{{reign|c. 1865|c. 1850|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1801|c. 1785|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(15 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Sumu-la-El]]
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|-
|9th
|[[File:Stamp Lasha Louvre AO27586.jpg|120px]]
|[[Sin-Iddinam]]<br>𒀭𒂗𒍪𒄿𒁷𒈾𒄠
|{{reign|c. 1849|c. 1843|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1785|c. 1778|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(7 years)</small>
|
*Son of Nur-Adad
*''temp.'' of [[Enlil-bani]]
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|-
|10th
|
|[[Sin-Eribam]]<br>𒋢𒈬𒀭
|{{reign|c. 1842|c. 1841|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1778|c. 1776|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(2 years)</small>
|
*Son of Ga’eš-rabi
*''temp.'' of [[Zambiya]]
*Held the title of, ''"[[King of Sumer and Akkad]]"''
|-
|11th
|
|[[Sin-Iqisham]]<br>𒀭𒂗𒍪𒄿𒆠𒊭𒄠
|{{reign|c. 1840|c. 1836|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1776|c. 1771|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(5 years)</small>
|
*Son of Sin-Eribam
*''temp.'' of [[Iter-pisha]]
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|-
|12th
|
|[[Silli-Adad]]
|{{reign|c. 1836|c. 1835|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1771|c. 1770|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(less than 1 year)</small>
|
*Son of Sin-Iqisham (?)
*''temp.'' of [[Sabium]]
*{{died-in|{{c.|1835 BC}}}}
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|-
!colspan="5"|
|-
|13th
|[[File:Foundation tablet Nanaia Louvre AO4412 (perspective).jpg|120px]]
|[[Kudur-Mabuk]]<br>𒆪𒁺𒌨𒈠𒁍𒊌
|{{reign|c. 1835|c. 1834|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1770|c. 1754|era=BC}}<br>(SC)</small>
|
*Son of Temti-Shilhak (?)
*May have come from an [[Elamite]] family
*''temp.'' of [[Naram-Sin of Assyria|Naram-Sin]]
|-
|14th
|[[File:Foundation figurine of Warad-Sin for Inanna at Zabalam.jpg|120px]]
|[[Warad-Sin]]<br>𒀴𒀭𒂗𒍪
|{{reign|c. 1834|c. 1823|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1770|c. 1758|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(12 years)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of [[Ur-du-kuga]]
*May have come from an Elamite family
*Possible co-regency with his father (Kudur-Mabuk)<ref>Fiette, Baptiste, ""King" Kudur-Mabuk. A Study on the Identity of a Mesopotamian Ruler Without a Crown", Die Welt des Orients, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 275-294, 2020</ref>
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|-
|15th
|[[File:Rim-Sin foundation figurine, 1822-1763 BC - Oriental Institute Museum, University of Chicago - DSC07168.JPG|120px]]
|[[Rim-Sin I]]<br>𒀭𒊑𒅎𒀭𒂗𒍪
|{{reign|c. 1822|c. 1763|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1758|c. 1699|era=BC}}<br>(SC)<br>(60 years)</small>
|
*Brother of Warad-Sin (?)
*Defeated by [[Hammurabi]] of [[Babylon]]
*Held the title of, ''"King of Sumer and Akkad"''
|-
!colspan="5"|
|-
!width="1%"|#
!width="24.75%"|Portrait or inscription
!width="24.75%"|Ruler
!width="24.75%"|{{abbr|Approx.|approximately}} date and length of reign
!width="24.75%"|Comments, notes, and references for mentions
|-
|colspan="5"align="center"style="background-color:palegoldenrod"|'''[[Old Babylonian period]] ({{circa|1763|1736 BC}})'''
|-
!colspan="5"|[[Amorite dynasty|First dynasty of Babylon]] ({{circa|1763|1736 BC}})
|-
|
|[[file:Votive_monument_to_Hammurabi_BM_22454_n01.jpg|120px]]
|[[Hammurabi]]<br>𒄩𒄠𒈬𒊏𒁉
|{{reign|c. 1763|c. 1750|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1699|c. 1686|era=BC}}<br>(SC)</small>
|
*Son of [[Sin-Muballit]]
*''temp.'' of [[Zimri-Lim]]
*Held the title of, ''"[[King of the Four Corners]]"''
|-
|
|[[file:Record_of_the_sale_of_land_in_the_reign_of_Samsu-Iluna.jpg|120px]]
|[[Samsu-iluna]]<br>𒊓𒄠𒋢𒄿𒇻𒈾
|{{reign|c. 1750|c. 1742|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1686|c. 1678|era=BC}}<br>(SC)</small>
|
*Son of Hammurabi
*''temp.'' of [[Siwe-Palar-Khuppak]]
|-
!colspan="5"|
|-
|16th
|
|[[Rim-Sin II]]<br>𒀭𒊑𒅎𒀭𒂗𒍪
|{{reign|c. 1742|c. 1736|era=BC}}<br>(MC)<br>
<small>{{reign|c. 1678|c. 1674|era=BC}}<br>(SC)</small>
|
*''temp.'' of Samsu-iluna
*Nephew of Rim-Sin I (?)
*Killed in revolt against [[Babylon]]
*Held the title of, ''"King"''
|}

==Archaeology==
[[File:Kings Larsa Louvre AO7025.jpg|thumb|right|List of the kings of Larsa, 39th year of [[Hammurabi]]'s reign, [[Louvre]]]]
[[File:Compilation of plane geometry problems from Larsa.jpg|thumb|Compilation of plane geometry problems from Larsa, Old Babylonian period.]]
The remains of Larsa cover an area of about 200 hectares. The highest point is around {{convert|70|ft|abbr=on}} in height.

The site of Tell es-Senkereh was first excavated, under the rudimentary archaeological standards of his day, by [[William Loftus (archaeologist)|William Loftus]] in 1850 for less than a month.<ref>[https://archive.org/download/travelsresearche00loft/travelsresearche00loft.pdf] William Loftus, "Travels and researches in Chaldæa and Susiana; with an account of excavations at Warka, the Erech of Nimrod, and Shúsh, Shushan the Palace of Esther, in 1849–52", J. Nisbet and Co., 1857</ref> Loftus recovered building bricks of [[Nebuchadnezzar II]] of the [[Neo-Babylonian Empire]] which enabled the site's identification as the ancient city of Larsa. Much of the effort by Loftus was on the temple of [[Shamash]], rebuilt by Nebuchadnezzar II. Inscriptions of [[Burna-Buriash II]] of the [[Kassite dynasty]] of [[Babylon]] and [[Hammurabi]] of the [[First Babylonian dynasty]] were also found. Larsa was also briefly worked by [[Walter Andrae]] in 1903. The site was inspected by [[Edgar James Banks]] in 1905. He found that widespread looting by the local population was occurring there.<ref>[https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdf/10.1086/473581] Edgar James Banks, "Senkereh, the Ruins of Ancient Larsa", The Biblical World, 25, no. 5, pp. 389–392, 1905</ref>

The first modern, scientific, excavation of Senkereh occurred in 1933, with the work of [[André Parrot]].<ref>Andre Parrot, "Villes enfouies. Trois campagnes de fouilles en Mésopotamie", 1935</ref><ref>A. Parrot, "Les fouilles de Tello et de. Senkereh-Larsa, campagne 1932–1933", Revue d'Assyriologie, 30,  pp. 169–182, 1933</ref>
Parrot worked at the location again in 1967.<ref>André Parrot, "Les fouilles de Larsa", Syria, 45, pp. 205–239, 1968</ref><ref>Parrot, André, "Les Fouilles de Larsa. Deuxième et Troisième Campagnes (1967)", Syria, vol. 45, no. 3/4, pp. 205–39, 1968</ref>
In 1969 and 1970, Larsa was excavated by Jean-Claude Margueron.<ref>Jean-Claude Margueron, "Larsa, rapport preliminaire sur la quatrieme campagne", ''Syria'', 47, pp. 261-277, 1970</ref><ref>Jean-Claude Margueron, "Larsa, rapport preliminaire sur la cinquieme campagne", Syria, 48, pp. 271–287, 1971</ref>
Between 1976 and 1991, an expedition of the Delegation Archaeologic Francaise en Irak led by J-L. Huot excavated at Tell es-Senereh for 13 seasons.<ref>J. L. Huot et al., "Larsa, Preliminary Report on the Sixth Campaign", Sumer, 34, pp. 140–164, 1978</ref><ref>J-L. Huot, "Larsa, rapport preliminaire sur la septieme campagne Larsa et la premiere campagne Tell el 'Oueili (1976)", ''Syria'', 55, pp. 183–223, 1978</ref><ref>J-L. Huot, "Larsa et 'Oueili, travaux de 1978–1981", vol. 26, Memoire, Editions Recherche sur les civilisations, 1983 {{ISBN|2-86538-066-1}}</ref><ref>J-L. Huot, "Larsa, Travaux de 1985", Editions Recherche sur les civilisations, 1989 {{ISBN|2-86538-198-6}}</ref> The primary focus of the excavation was the Neo-Babylonian E-Babbar temple of Utu/Shamash. Floors and wall repairs showed its continued use in the Hellenistic period. A tablet, found on the earliest Hellenistic floor, was dated to the reign of [[Philip Arrhidaeus]] (320 BC). Soundings showed that the Neo-Babylonian temple followed that plan of the prior Kassite and earlier temples.<ref>J.-L. Huot, "Larsa (10e campagne, 1983) et Oueili: Rapport preliminaire", Editions Recherche sur les civilisations, 1987 {{ISBN|2-86538-174-9}}</ref> Numerous inscriptions and cuneiform tablets were found representing the reigns of numerous rulers, from [[Ur-Nammu]]  to Hammurabi all the way up to Nebuchadnezzar II.<ref>D. Arnaud, "French Archaeological Mission in Iraq. A Catalogue of the Cuneiform Tablets and Inscribed Objects Found during the 6th Season in Tell Senkereh/Larsa", Sumer, 34, pp. 165–176, 1978</ref><ref>Huot, J.-L., "L’E. babbar de Larsa aux IIe et Ier millénaires (fouilles de 1974 à 1985)", BAH 205, Beyrouth, 2014</ref>

In 2019 excavations were resumed. The first season began with a topographic survey, by drone and surface survey, to refine and correct the mapping from early excavations. Excavation was focused on a large construction of the Hellenistic period built north of the E-Babbar temple.<ref>[https://www.cairn.info/load_pdf.php?ID_ARTICLE=ARSC_451_0051&download=1] Lionel Darras, Régis Vallet, "La découverte des remparts de Larsa (Iraq) par la géophysique", XXIIIe colloque du GMPCA : Archéométrie 2022, May 2022, Chambéry, France</ref><ref>[https://hal.science/hal-03088166/document] Vallet, R. et al., "Preliminary Report on the XIVth and XVth Campaigns at Larsa", Sumer LXVI, pp. 133-176, 2020</ref> The first season included a magnetometer survey.<ref>[https://journals.openedition.org/archeosciences/pdf/8378] Darras, Lionel, and Régis Vallet, "Magnetic signatures of urban structures: Case study from Larsa (Iraq, 6th–1st Millennium BC)", ArcheoSciences, Revue d'archéométrie 45-1, pp. 51-54, 2021</ref> Excavations continued with one month seasons in 2021 and 2022. They have been able to trace a very large system of internal canals and a port area, all linked to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in Old Babylonian times. In a destroyed level of the Grand Viziers residence 59 cuneiform tablets, fragments and envelopes dated to the time of [[Gungunum]] and [[Abisare]] were found. Geophysical work continued including on the 10-20 meter wide rampart wall that enclosed Larsa, with six main gates.<ref>[https://hal.science/hal-03925003] Regis Vallet, "Larsa-'Uwaili Annual Report 2021-2022: Preliminary Report on the Results of the XVIth & XVIIth Campaigns at Larsa and the Xth Campaign at Tell el ‘Uwaili", State Board of Antiquities and Heritage of Iraq. 2022</ref>

==See also==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Larsa}}
*[[Cities of the ancient Near East]]
*[[Short chronology timeline]]
*[[Letter from Iddin-Sin to Zinu]]
*[[Tell Sifr]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*[https://www.iasj.net/iasj/download/6a7f94a67ec8422e] Abid, Basima Jalil, and Ahmed Naji Sabee, "The fattening barn in Larsa and its role in providing the cities with offerings (Naptanu) from the reign of the King Rim Sin", ISIN Journal 1, 2021
*Arnaud, Daniel, "Catalogue Des Textes Trouvés Au Cours Des Fouilles et Des Explorations Régulières de La Mission Française a Tell Senkereh-Larsa En 1969 et 1970", Syria, vol. 48, no. 3/4, pp.&nbsp;289–93, 1971
*Arnaud, Daniel, ''Texte aus Larsa. Die epigraphischen Funde der 1. Kampagne in Senkereh-Larsa 1933.'' Berlin: Reimer, 1994, {{ISBN|3-496-02510-7}}.
*Birot, Maurice, "Découvertes Épigraphiques a Larsa (Campagnes 1967)", Syria, vol. 45, no. 3/4, pp.&nbsp;241–47, 1968
*Judith K. Bjorkman, "The Larsa Goldsmith's Hoards-New Interpretations", [[Journal of Near Eastern Studies]], vol. 52, no. 1, pp.&nbsp;1–23, 1993
*T. Breckwoldt, "Management of grain storage in Old Babylonian Larsa", Archiv für Orientforschung, no. 42–43, pp.&nbsp;64–88, 1995–1996
*Calvet, Y., et al., "Larsa Rapport Préliminaire Sur La Sixième Campagne de Fouilles", Syria, vol. 53, no. 1/2, pp.&nbsp;1–45, 1976
*Calvet Y., "Un niveau protodynastique à Larsa", Huot J.-L. (ed.), Larsa. Travaux de 1987 et 1989, BAH 165, Beyrouth, pp.&nbsp;23–28, 2003
*Charpin, D. 2018, "En marge d’EcritUr, 1 : un temple funéraire pour la famille royale de Larsa?", Notes Assyriologiques Brèves et Utilitaires 2018, no 1, 2018
*Charpin, D., "Enanedu et les prêtresses-enum du dieu Nanna à Ur à l’époque paléo-babylonienne", in D. Charpin, M. Béranger, B. Fiette & A. Jacquet, Nouvelles recherches sur les archives d’Ur d’époque paléo-babylonienne. Mémoires de N.A.B.U. 22, Paris: Société pour l’Étude du Proche-Orient ancien, pp.&nbsp;187–210, 2020
*Feuerherm, Karljürgen G., "Architectural Features of Larsa’s Urban Dwelling B 27", Journal of Near Eastern Studies, vol. 66, no. 3, pp.&nbsp;193–204, 2007
*[http://cdli.ucla.edu/staff/fitz/dissertation.pdf] Madeleine Fitzgerald, "The Rulers of Larsa", Yale University Dissertation, 2002
*Fitzgerald, M. A., "The ethnic and political identity of the Kudur-mabuk dynasty", CRRAI 48, Leiden: Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, pp.&nbsp;101–110, 2005
*Földi, Zsombor J., "Prosopography of Old Babylonian Documents from Larsa: On Seal Inscriptions, the King’s Name and the So-Called "Double Filiation"",  pp. 517-538, 2023
*Goetze, Albrecht, "Sin-Iddinam of Larsa. New Tablets from His Reign", Journal of Cuneiform Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, pp.&nbsp;83–118, 1950
*[https://archive.org/details/recordsfromurlar05gricuoft/page/2/mode/2up] [[Ettalene M. Grice]], "Records from Ur and Larsa dated in the Larsa Dynasty", Yale University Press, 1919
*[https://archive.org/details/chronologyoflars00gricuoft/page/n7/mode/2up] Ettalene M. Grice, Clarence E. Keiser, Morris Jastrow, "Chronology of the Larsa Dynasty", AMS Press, 1979 {{ISBN|0-404-60274-6}}
*Huot, J.-L., Rougeulle, A., Suire, J., "La structure urbaine de Larsa, une approche provisoire", in J.-L. Huot (ed.), Larsa, Travaux de 1985, ERC, Paris, pp.&nbsp;19–52, 1989
*Huot, Jean-Louis, et al., "Larsa. Rapport Préliminaire Sur La Huitième Campagne a Larsa et La Deuxième Campagne a Tell El ’Oueili (1978)", Syria, vol. 58, no. 1/2, pp.&nbsp;7–148, 1981
* Kaerki, Ilmari, ''Die sumerischen und akkadischen Königsinschriften der altbabylonischen Zeit 1. - Isin, Larsa, Uruk'', Studia orientalia 49, Helsinki, 1980, {{ISBN|951-95075-6-6}}.
*W.F. Leemans, "Legal and economic records from the Kingdom of Larsa", Brill, 1954 {{ISBN|90-6258-120-X}}
*[https://archive.org/details/earlybabylonianl00lutzuoft/page/n11/mode/2up] Lutz, Henry Frederick, "Early Babylonian Letters from Larsa", Yale University Press, 1917
*Marcel Segrist, "Larsa Year Names", Andrews University Press, 1990 {{ISBN|0-943872-54-5}}
*Tyborowski, Witold, "Šēp-Sîn, a Private Businessman of the Old Babylonian Larsa", Die Welt Des Orients, vol. 33, pp.&nbsp;68–88, 2003

==External links==
{{EB1911 poster|Larsa}}
*[https://phys.org/news/2022-01-european-archaeologists-iraq-years-war.html - European archaeologists back in Iraq after years of war - Guillaume Decamme - Phys.org - January 12, 2022]
*[https://www.asor.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Fiette-ANE-Today-January-2022.pdf The Exceptional Career of a Mesopotamian Ruler without a Crown: Kudur-Mabuk and the Kingship of Larsa - Baptiste Fiette - ASOR]
*[http://cdli.ucla.edu/tools/yearnames/HTML/T10K1.htm Yearnames of Larsa rulers at CDLI]
*[https://cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/search?provenience=Larsa&limit=1000 On-line digital images of Larsa Tablets at CDLI]
{{Ancient Syria and Mesopotamia}}
{{Early Rulers of Mesopotamia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Larsa| ]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 3rd millennium BC]]
[[Category:States and territories established in the 20th century BC]]
[[Category:States and territories disestablished in the 17th century BC]]
[[Category:1850 archaeological discoveries]]
[[Category:Sumerian cities]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Iraq]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Iraq]]
[[Category:History of Dhi Qar Governorate]]
[[Category:Isin-Larsa period]]
[[Category:City-states]]