cuniform signs

Cuneiform signs are the written symbols used in an ancient writing system developed by the Sumerians around 3400 BCE in Mesopotamia. Made by pressing a stylus into soft clay tablets, these signs evolved from simple pictographs to abstract wedge-shaped marks. Each sign can represent a word, idea, or sound, functioning as a complex writing system that combined ideograms and phonetic symbols. Cuneiform was used for various purposes, including record-keeping, laws, and literature. Its intricate signs laid the foundation for later writing systems in the region and provide valuable insights into early human civilization.