<P> However, there are no known year - names or other archaeological evidence verifying any of these later kings of Akkad or Uruk, apart from a single artifact referencing king Dudu of Akkad . The named kings of Uruk may have been contemporaries of the last kings of Akkad, but in any event could not have been very prominent . </P> <P> In the Gutian hordes, (first reigned) a nameless king; (then) Imta reigned 3 years as king; Shulme reigned 6 years; Elulumesh reigned 6 years; Inimbakesh reigned 5 years; Igeshuash reigned 6 years; Iarlagab reigned 15 years; Ibate reigned 3 years;...reigned 3 years; Kurum reigned 1 year;...reigned 3 years;...reigned 2 years; Iararum reigned 2 years; Ibranum reigned 1 year; Hablum reigned 2 years; Puzur - Sin son of Hablum reigned 7 years; Iarlaganda reigned 7 years;...reigned 7 years;...reigned 40 days . Total 21 kings reigned 91 years, 40 days . </P> <P> The period between c. 2112 BC and 2004 BC is known as the Ur III period . Documents again began to be written in Sumerian, although Sumerian was becoming a purely literary or liturgical language, much as Latin later would be in Medieval Europe . </P> <P> One explanation for the end of the Akkadian empire is simply that the Akkadian dynasty could not maintain its political supremacy over other independently powerful city states . </P>

The earliest of the mesopotamian empires was founded by gilgamesh