Ancient cylinder seals may reveal origins of world's oldest writing system

Researchers have found connections between the world's oldest writing system, cuneiform, and ancient cylinder seals used in Mesopotamia. These seals, dating back to 4400 BC, feature designs that resemble proto-cuneiform symbols, suggesting a direct link in their development. The study, published in *Antiquity*, indicates that the motifs on these seals were used for early accounting and trade, which may have influenced the creation of proto-cuneiform around 3350 to 3000 BC. This challenges previous beliefs about the origins of writing. The findings could reshape understanding of how writing evolved from symbolic representations to a formal system. The research highlights the importance of these seals in documenting transactions and suggests they played a crucial role in the transition to written language.