World's Oldest Alphabet Writings Discovered In Syria, Archaeologists Claim
US researchers have uncovered what may be the oldest known example of alphabetic writing, found on finger-length clay cylinders unearthed in a Syrian tomb. The cylinders, carbon-dated to approximately 2400 BCE by archaeologists at Johns Hopkins University, predate other known alphabetic scripts by about 500 years. The findings suggest an earlier and possibly distinct origin of the alphabet than previously thought.
The clay cylinders were discovered alongside Early Bronze Age artifacts, including jewelry made of gold and silver, pottery, a spearhead, and cookware. One well-preserved tomb contained six burials, with the cylinders placed near pottery vessels. Described in an academic paper in 2021, the discovery gained prominence recently when Glenn Schwartz, a professor of archaeology at Johns Hopkins, presented the findings at the American Society of Overseas Research annual meeting.
A New Perspective on Alphabetic Origins
“This new discovery shows that people were experimenting with communication technologies much earlier and in a different location than we had imagined,” said Professor Schwartz. Historically, scholars believed the alphabet originated in or near Egypt after 1900 BCE, evolving from systems like Mesopotamian cuneiform, Egyptian hieroglyphics, or Chinese characters. The Syrian cylinders, however, suggest an alternative origin, pointing to the possibility of a distinct alphabetic innovation.
The writing on the cylinders has not yet been deciphered, leaving researchers to speculate about its purpose. Schwartz proposed they may have served as labels, possibly detailing the contents or origin of associated vessels. “The cylinders were perforated, so I’m imagining a string tethering them to another object,” he said. “Without a means to translate the writing, we can only speculate.”
Broader Implications
If confirmed as the earliest alphabetic writing, this discovery could reshape our understanding of the development of written communication. Unlike earlier systems often restricted to elites, such a writing form might have made literacy more accessible to a broader population. While much remains to be understood, these artifacts represent a significant step toward unraveling the mysteries of the origins of the alphabet.
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