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Mesopotamian Cylinder Seals and the Origins of Writing

New research reveals a direct link between ancient Mesopotamian cylinder seals and the development of proto-cuneiform writing, shedding light on the origins of writing.

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Spanish

Germany

Middle EastHistoryArchaeologyWritingAncient CivilizationMesopotamia

University Of BolognaAntiquity

Silvia FerraraMattia CartolanoKathryn Kelley

What is proto-cuneiform and how did it function?: Proto-cuneiform, an early form of writing with hundreds of pictograms (many still undeciphered), served a similar accounting function as cylinder seals, primarily documented in southern Iraq.
What was the purpose of cylinder seals in ancient Mesopotamia?: Cylinder seals, made of stone and engraved with designs, were rolled onto clay tablets to create impressions. Around 3500 BC, they became part of an accounting system to track goods.
What is the main finding of the new research on the origin of writing in Mesopotamia?: New research links the origin of writing in Mesopotamia to designs on ancient cylinder seals, suggesting that the imagery on these seals evolved into proto-cuneiform script.
How did researchers establish a connection between cylinder seals and proto-cuneiform?: Researchers compared cylinder seal designs to proto-cuneiform signs, finding correlations in both graphic form and meaning, establishing a direct link between the two.
What is the significance of this research for understanding the development of writing?: This research provides a direct link between the cylinder seal system and the invention of writing, showing how the meaning associated with seal designs integrated into a writing system.

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