Oldest Known Alphabet Discovered in Ancient Syrian Tomb

Clay cylinders from 2400 BCE challenge previous theories about the origins of alphabetic writing, predating known examples by 500 years.

• Archaeologists uncovered four clay cylinders in a 4,400-year-old tomb at Tell Umm-el Marra, Syria, containing what may be the earliest known alphabetic writing.
• The discovery predates the previously known earliest alphabetic scripts, thought to have originated in Egypt around 1900 BCE, by approximately 500 years.
• The cylinders, perforated and likely used as labels, were found alongside gold jewelry, pottery, and other artifacts in a well-preserved Early Bronze Age tomb.
• Carbon-14 dating confirmed the age of the tomb and artifacts, suggesting a new origin story for the alphabet outside of Egypt in the Near East.
• The findings, presented at the 2024 American Society of Overseas Research Annual Meeting, could reshape understanding of early communication and its role in urban civilizations.

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