Cuneiform

Cuneiform is one of the earliest systems of writing, developed by the ancient Sumerians around 3400 BCE in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). It consists of wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets using a reed stylus. Initially used for record-keeping, cuneiform evolved to express complex ideas, literature, and law. This writing system includes various signs that represent both sounds and specific words, allowing for the documentation of languages like Sumerian and Akkadian. Cuneiform’s impact on communication and administration laid the foundation for future writing systems and significantly advanced human civilization.