Ever since it was first discovered, the Sumerian king list has baffled archaeologists and historians worldwide. According to many researchers, it is one of the most mysterious and controversial artefacts ever discovered. But what is so fascinating about this ancient clay prism and the cuneiform text that covers it sides? Well, the text has been deciphered and it tells us that the Sumerians believed eight – sometimes ten – kings ruled over the land for an astonishing 241,200 years.