An alphabet found on clay cylinders found in a tomb in Syria is revolutionizing our understanding of the origins of writing. For decades it was believed that the ancient Egyptians created the world’s first alphabet. A new discovery casts doubt on that assumption, which pushes back the age of the first known alphabetic writing by nearly 500 years, the Daily Mail writes.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore say the oldest known alphabetic text was engraved on small cylinders made of clay. The finger-length cylinders were found at Tell Umm el-Marr, an ancient city in northwestern modern Syria that was once a busy crossroads of two trade routes.
Radiocarbon dating techniques indicate that the objects are between 4,400 and 2,400 years old, approximately 500 years older than any known alphabetic writing system. The cylinders could be a label for something; perhaps wine containers for transport purposes.
Scholars believe that the inscriptions may indicate names or descriptions of properties. But they admit that they can only guess what exactly the text says.
It is known that people used hieroglyphs before the emergence of the alphabet. Alphabetical writing changed their lifestyle, thought and communication.
We previously wrote that there was “the scariest sound in the world”. It was made from an ancient Aztec death whistle.
Source: People Talk
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
