Puzriš-Dagān (modern Drehem), situated ca. 10 kms southeast of Nippur, was the site of large administrative complexes and a royal palace with its sanctuaries. The long-known identification was proven by Iraqi excavations at the site (Al-Mutawalli/Sallaberger 2017); the layout of the city is now known thanks to an intensive survey (Marchetti/Al-Hussainy/Benati/Luglio/Scazzosi/Valeri/Zaina 2019). Šulgi founded Puzriš-Dagān in his 38th year (2055 BCE) at the city of Esaĝdana-Nibru which had already included some royal workshops and administrative units (Sallaberger 2008b).

Puzriš-Dagān contained the administration of the royal herds throughout the kingdom, carefully noting both income and expenses. As royal gifts to persons and temples alike, many of the animals were slaughtered (Sallaberger 2004), whereas other were integrated into the animal herds. Therefore, dairy production was not the focus of the royal administration at Puzriš-Dagān. Another archive from the city deals with a part of the royal treasure, with gold and silver and objects made of them, and with other elite objects such as beds and shoes (Paoletti 2012). Some lists of foodstuffs for luxurious meals integrate well into the context of the royal court and its administration. As the animal texts indicate, Puzriš-Dagān was also a place to provide large banquets especially for the royal army.

Everyday activities of Puzriš-Dagān’s inhabitants such as agricultural work and crafts are only rarely attested in the preserved texts (Al-Mutawalli/Sallaberger 2017).