Ḫabūrītum

Ḫabūrītum (also spelled Haburitum) refers to a specific type of legal document or transaction prevalent in Old Babylonian period Mesopotamia (c. 2000-1600 BCE). While the exact details of a Ḫabūrītum transaction are still debated amongst Assyriologists, it generally involves a form of secured loan or credit arrangement, often related to agricultural activities.

These transactions frequently involved fields or harvests being pledged as collateral. The borrower would receive goods or silver, and in return, promised to repay the debt at a specified time, usually the harvest season. If the borrower defaulted on the loan, the lender had the right to claim the pledged property or the corresponding harvest.

The Ḫabūrītum documents are typically legal contracts inscribed on clay tablets, detailing the parties involved, the amount of the loan, the interest rate (if applicable), the collateral pledged, and the terms of repayment. They serve as valuable sources of information about economic practices, social structures, and legal customs in Old Babylonian society. The terminology and precise function of Ḫabūrītum continue to be subjects of scholarly research, aiming to further clarify the nuances of this important financial instrument.