:''This article is about the Sumerian city. For the Islamic term, see
Ummah.
'Umma' (modern ''Tell Jokha'') was an ancient city in
Sumer, best known for its long frontier conflict with
Lagash. The city reached its zenith ca. 2350BC, under the rule of
Lugal-Zage-Si, who also controlled
Ur and
Uruk. The
Umma calendar of
Shulgi (ca. 21st century BC) is the immediate predecessor of the later
Babylonian calendar, and indirectly of the post-exilic
Hebrew calendar.
During the
2003 invasion of Iraq, after Coalition bombing began,
looters descended upon the site which is now pockmarked with hundreds of ditches and pits. The archaeological site is now being destroyed and its artifacts stolen. The prospects for future official excavation and research are being destroyed in the process, preventing official researchers from learning more about the history and culture of this place.
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