Ancient seals reveal origins of the world's first writing system

Italian researchers have found that some of the earliest symbols of writing may have originated from designs on ancient cylinder seals. This study, published in Antiquity, suggests a direct link between these seals and proto-cuneiform signs. The research highlights how motifs from cylinder seals, used for trade and accounting, evolved into proto-cuneiform symbols over 5,000 years ago. This connection could help decode many proto-cuneiform symbols that remain unclear to scholars. The findings indicate a continuity between pre-literate symbols and the development of writing. This marks a significant step in understanding the transition from prehistory to history through the invention of writing.