Study Investigates the Origins of Writing

Archaeology Magazine ^ | November 6, 2024 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

According to a statement released by the University of Bologna, researchers led by classicist Silvia Ferrara have discovered that designs on Mesopotamian cylinder seals were the precursors to certain signs in proto-cuneiform script, an archaic writing system based on pictographs. Some 6,000 years ago, engraved cylinder seals were created to record the production, storage, and transport of textiles, crops, and other goods. The seals were rolled on clay tablets to create impressions of the cylinder's etched designs. Sumerian scribes in the ancient city of Uruk, in modern-day southern Iraq, developed proto-cuneiform around 3000 b.c. Ferrara and her colleagues identified a number of seal designs concerning the transport of pottery and textiles that evolved into later proto-cuneiform signs used for the same purpose. "Our findings demonstrate that the designs engraved on cylinder seals are directly connected to the development of proto-cuneiform in southern Iraq," Ferrara said. "They also show how the meaning originally associated with these designs was integrated into a writing system." Read the original scholarly article about this research in Antiquity.

[SunkenCiv]

Proto-cuneiform tablet.

Courtesy of CDLI

[dp0622]

Wow. I was thinking today where the origin and how the origin of speech came about.

Here’s an article on very early writing.

Cool :)

[Gene Eric]

I’m inclined to think it began with the first prisoner ever.

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

• Sidebar: Brotlaibidole | WikiEnigma

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[Kudsman]

Wow. OK. Amazing insight. Don't know if I would agree yet, but I can see the reasoning. I would think it may have started with mom telling junior, (which she knew to be an experimental, maniac boy), to not touch the fire because...hot. and Dad's killing Buffalo so listen up you little twit.

but people's perspective always fascinates me.

[Larry Lucido]

It says “Helen Thomas, First Grade”.

[KingLudd]

” ... I would think it may have started with mom telling junior ... “

I often thought that writing came about to organize complicated directions to a good hunting spot or where there was good fruit. Also writing is a great way to track an inventory - such as a ship’s hold or a cache of tools. And finally, writing is a fantastic way to express ideas that otherwise might not have an audience.

Cool article.

[SaveFerris]

I’m thinking it was probably WordStar on an IBM PC with 286 processor.

With a “Turbo” button on the PC.

[Kudsman]

It really is. I had fun reading it. Beats the hell out of Fox News.

[SaveFerris]

6255 B.C.

Inscription reads: “This time capsule buried by the senior class of 6255 B.C. Senior class vice-president: Nancy Pelosi and Ugg, Prom Queen and King of the Class of 6255 B.C.

Go Troglodyte Football!!

(how they knew the B.C. date, I don’t know). Probably a calendar carved into stone.

[Kudsman]

I shouldn’t say that. Katie Pavlich works at fox. I’m sorry Katie.

[SaveFerris]

[the transport of pottery]

Back then, Pottery Barn catalogs were actually written on =====>>> pottery.

[SaveFerris]

I found this. We're still trying to translate it:

[Larry Lucido]

A lot of folks tried to stop receiving clay tablet catalogues in the mail.

[SunkenCiv]

https://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1493781/posts?page=9#9

[SunkenCiv]

McGoohan?

[SunkenCiv]

As soon as the guy from Cocoon comes out, we can find out if extraterrestrials gifted our ancestors with writing.

[nopardons]

BTTT

[Sirius Lee]

"And with our Clay 2.0 feature, you can crank out four...maybe five words an hour!"