An important article on sheum in the Book of Mormon is that of:
Mark
Weeden, "The Akkadian
Words for 'Grain' and the God Ḫaya," Die Welt des Orients 39,
no. 1 (2008): 77-107. While the entire article should be read, there are two brief
exerts:
Summary:
Akkadian had two words meaning
"grain, barley" associated with the Sumerogram šE, še'um and e(y)yû(m). (p. 77)
še'um and e(yy)û clearly existed in
Akkadian. (p. 103)