Ancient commercial symbols on cylinder seals: key to proto-cuneiform and the roots of writing

Researchers studying the roots of writing have highlighted the role of ancient trade symbols found on cylinder seals in Mesopotamia as key influencers in the development of early scripts. A recent study by Kathryn Kelley and Mattia Cartolano of the University of Bologna suggests that the engravings on these cylinder seals, used to mark clay in trade, may have evolved into signs used in the earliest form of writing , known as proto-cuneiform. Dating from around 4400 BC, these seals feature designs related to the movement of goods such as textiles and jars, indicating a commercial origin for the written symbols.

Trademarks registered in proto-cuneiform

THE study notes that cylindrical seals, rolled on clay tablets, left impressions capable of authenticating transactions, thus laying the foundations of a system of recording information. Seals examined include earlier symbols formal writing for over a millennium. These motifs, such as those depicting structures or vessels, likely became founding signs in proto-cuneiform, used in early Mesopotamian cities like Uruk around 3100 BC. These seals may therefore represent a bridge between symbolic trade registers and more formalized proto-cuneiform, marking an important cognitive shift from imagery to systematic writing.

Link to Sumerian cuneiform writing

Developed by the Sumerians, cuneiform writing is widely considered the world’s first known writing system. Created with a stylus that impressed wedge shapes into clay, this system evolved to record spoken language. Later adopted by the Akkadians and maintained for nearly two millennia, cuneiform was widely used throughout the Mesopotamian empires, from the Babylonians to the Assyrians, creating a lasting legacy.

Various academic perspectives on symbolic origins

The study’s findings were met with support and skepticism. Holly Pittman of the University of Pennsylvania noted that similar ideas she had proposed in the past had been rejected but have now been validated through this research. Anthropologist Gordon Whittaker of the University of Göttingen remains cautious, pointing out that the association between seal designs and writing symbols may lack clear causality.

The researchers hope their findings will further contribute to the decoding of proto-cuneiform and a better understanding of the transition from trade symbols to structured writing, an important step in the development of human communication.