Ancient Cylinder Seals Reveal Roots of Proto-Cuneiform Writing

Researchers have discovered that Mesopotamian cylinder seals contain designs that directly influenced the development of early writing systems.

The study identifies a direct link between 6,000-year-old cylinder seal designs and proto-cuneiform symbols from Uruk, Mesopotamia.
Cylinder seals, used for accounting and trade, predated proto-cuneiform by centuries and influenced its iconographic signs.
These seals were crucial in transitioning from pre-writing symbolism to structured writing systems, marking a major cognitive leap.
Researchers have found that motifs on the seals, such as those depicting textiles and jars, evolved into proto-cuneiform signs.
The findings offer new insights into the decentralised origins of writing in Mesopotamia, involving various societal contributors.