Clay Tablets

Clay tablets are ancient writing surfaces made from clay, used primarily in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) around 3500 BCE. Early scribes would inscribe symbols and characters on the soft clay using tools called styluses. Once inscribed, the tablets were often baked or sun-dried to harden them, preserving the information. The content varied from administrative records and contracts to literature and religious texts. These artifacts are crucial for understanding early human civilization, as they provide insights into language, culture, economy, and governance of ancient societies. Today, many clay tablets have been uncovered and studied by archaeologists and historians.