Laura De Rosa These are alphabetic engravings found on some clay cylinders found in the ancient Syrian city of Tell Umm-el Marra. They are 500 years older than the Egyptian alphabetic writing, currently considered the oldest in the world
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Recent archaeological findings suggest that alphabetic writing may have originated much earlier than previously believed. Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have discovered clay cylinders engraved with alphabetic-like inscriptions in the ancient Syrian city of Tell Umm el-Marra. These artifacts date back to approximately 2400 BCE, making them 500 years older than the proto-Sinaitic script from Egypt (circa 1900–1800 BCE), which has long been regarded as the earliest form of alphabetic writing.
The research team used carbon-14 dating to verify the age of these remarkable finds, adding weight to their significance in understanding the history of written communication.
A treasure trove of artifacts
The cylinders, which feature perforations, were uncovered within a tomb alongside a variety of other objects. These included ceramic vessels, cooking pots, a spearhead, gold and silver jewelry, and the skeletal remains of six individuals. If confirmed as alphabetic, these inscriptions could revolutionize the narrative of where and when alphabetic writing emerged.
Glenn Schwartz, a professor of archaeology who led the excavation, commented on the discovery:
“Alphabets revolutionized writing by making it accessible to people beyond the royal family and social elites. Alphabetic writing transformed how people lived, thought, and communicated. This new discovery shows that people were experimenting with new communication technologies much earlier and in a different location than we had previously imagined.”
A mystery yet to be solved
For now, the inscriptions on the clay cylinders remain undeciphered, leaving their precise content unknown. However, should they indeed represent early alphabetic writing, Syria could replace Egypt as the birthplace of this transformative communication technology in historical accounts.
Source: Hub
