While there were a number of significant temples in the city, the titular deity is not known though the Isin-Larsa period literary composition Lament for Eridu names the goddess Aruru in that role.
[1] There is known to have been a temple of Ninisina and one of Nergal of Eresh in Irisagrig in the Ur III period, at least back to the reign of Shu-Suen and Amar-Sin respectively, and continuing under the rule of Malgium.
[2] An alternate name for Ursagrig during the Akkadian Empire and Ur III periods has been identified as Šarrākum (possibly a variation of Al-Šarrākī).
[5] In 1992, Douglas Frayne proposed the site of Umm al-Hafriyat, near Nippur, as the location based a) on it being 4 rowing days upstream from Umma on the Iturungal Canal off the Euphrates river, suggested by an early itinerary, b) on it being the largest mound north of Adab with known Early Dynastic and Sargonic remains and c) on reports of the quality of tablet making clay at the site.
[7] More Ur III texts became available on boat journeys between Irisaĝrig, Nippur, and Umma, combined with better information of ancient watercourse in the area, allowed refinement on the distances involved.
Additionally, satellite photographs of looting activity were correlated with the appearance of tablets from the site on the private market.
Surface surveys and brief excavations by Iraqi archaeologists at the site have also shown it to have been occupied at the proper times.
[14][15][16][17] The city of Irisaĝrig is known through a number of cuneiform inscriptions dating back into the Early Dynastic IIIb period.
It was also closely linked in this period with the unlocated ancient city of Garšana and known to be a transshipment point for goods to Der.
[28][29] And a scribe, Ilum-asu, who along with his father Bibi and brothers Mašum and Ašgi-ibra handled the administration of rations for a number of workers in Irisaĝrig.