Cuneiform sumerian tablet

Clay tablet with Sumerian cuneiform script, one of the oldest writing systems in human history, dating back to around 3400 BCE.

About this subject

Cuneiform script was developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 3400 to 3000 BCE, making it one of the earliest systems of writing. Initially used for administrative and economic records, it later expanded to include literature, law, and science. The term "cuneiform" comes from Latin "cuneus" meaning wedge, describing the wedge-shaped marks made by a reed stylus on moist clay tablets. After inscription, tablets were dried in the sun or baked in kilns for preservation. Thousands of these tablets have survived, offering extraordinary insights into daily life, religion, and governance of Sumerian, Akkadian, Babylonian, and Assyrian civilizations. Languages recorded include Sumerian and Akkadian, among others. The decipherment of cuneiform in the 19th century, notably by Henry Rawlinson and others, was a breakthrough in archaeology, enabling the reading of texts such as the Epic of Gilgamesh and the Code of Hammurabi. Archaeological sites like Uruk, Ur, and Nineveh have yielded vast libraries of tablets, which continue to be studied to understand the origins of writing and civilization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of cuneiform writing?

Cuneiform was invented by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia around 3400 BCE, initially for accounting and administrative purposes.

What material were cuneiform texts written on?

They were inscribed on moist clay tablets using a reed stylus, then dried in the sun or baked to harden.

How was cuneiform deciphered?

Decipherment was achieved in the 19th century, notably by Henry Rawlinson, using trilingual inscriptions like the Behistun Inscription, which contained the same text in Old Persian, Elamite, and Akkadian.