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6.000-year-old cylinders found in Mesopotamia show the birth of writing and offer new insights into history
Researchers from University of Bologna have released a discovery in ancient Mesopotamia that may bridge the gap between ancient symbolism and the emergence of writing.
The study explores ancient cylinders from around 6.000 years old, used to seal accounting documents, and proposes that these symbols played a crucial role in the creation of the “protocuneiform writing” in Uruk, an ancient city located in present-day Iraq.
The origin of seals and the first writing
The central question that motivated the research was: Did ancient seals influence the creation of signs in the region's first writing? The study's authors argued that while the link between these people and the development of writing has long been considered, detailed analysis of specific images remains largely unexplored.
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According to the study, one of the world's earliest writing systems may have been shaped by these prehistoric images.
Cylinders, which served to mark official transactions, were used to record administrative information in northern Mesopotamia, especially from the end of the seventh millennium BC.
In addition to fulfilling a practical function, stamps facilitated the circulation of goods and cultural thoughts, connecting different regions. However, proto-cuneiform, the writing system in question, arose exclusively in southern Iraq.
Cuneiform Digital Library Initiative
Uruk: cultural and economic center
Uruk, one of the earliest cities of Mesopotamia, flourished as a center of influence during the fourth millennium BC and exerted its rule over the entire region, from southwestern Iran to southeastern Turkey.
During this period, the use of cylinder seals to authenticate transactions gained relevance in the management of products such as textiles and grains. These accounting practices were directly linked to the emergence of protocuneiform, a writing system with hundreds of pictographic signs.
Comparison between seal designs and protocuneiform signs
Kathryn Kelley and Mattia Cartolano, researchers at the University of Bologna, were responsible for a comparative analysis between images of the seals and protocuneiform signs. “We focused on ancient seals, created before the development of writing.
Our analysis ranges from the oldest images to those from the proto-literate period,” the authors state.
The methodology allowed the identification of a series of specific drawings representing textiles and ceramics, which evolved to become protocuneiform signs. “We observed a direct connection between these ancient drawings and the development of protocuneiform writing in southern Iraq.
These symbols have maintained their original meanings, now incorporated into the writing system,” Kelley and Cartolano add.
Controversies and perspectives on the study
Although the study offers an innovative perspective, it is the target of skepticism. The publication Live Science highlighted that other experts have questioned this direct link, with some saying that this idea had already been dismissed by archaeology three decades ago.
The controversy is mainly due to the fact that other theories about the origin of writing suggest that the practical need for accounting, rather than symbolism, was the initial driver of the development of writing.
The relevance of stamps for written communication
Regardless of the differences, the research raises questions documents on the evolution of human communication. The study suggests that pre-literate seals, in addition to fulfilling a practical function, also carried a symbolism that transcended generations, shaping the beginning of writing.
The meaning of these drawings emerged over the millennia, eventually becoming integrated into a more advanced communication system.
The University of Bologna argues that this is the first time that a direct link between seals and protocuneiform writing has been established on solid grounds.
This idea challenges the notion that writing emerged solely in response to administrative needs. Instead, the study proposes that symbolism already present in preliterate society may have influenced the creation of the first written signs.
Implications for the future of archaeology
The debate surrounding this study shows how archaeology is constantly changing, with new findings and theories re-evaluating concepts previously considered definitive.
By connecting prehistoric times to the emergence of writing, this research not only enriches our understanding of the evolution of communication, but also raises new questions about the origins of human thought and its expressions.
Ultimately, seal analysis can offer a window into the past, revealing aspects of relationships economical and cultural differences between ancient civilizations.
Understanding the transition from symbolism to writing allows for a deeper insight into how humans developed a written language to record and share knowledge, laying the foundations of history as we know it.
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