Four small finger-like clay cylinders from the ancient city of Umm el-Marra in northwestern Syria are inscribed with what may be the earliest known alphabetic writing. Discovered during excavations in 2004 by a team from Johns Hopkins University, the cylinders, which range in length from 1.5 to 2 inches, come from a securely dated archaeological context and may radically change our understanding of the emergence of the alphabet. The cylinders were found in a tomb among several burials and a variety of rich grave goods: gold and silver jewelry, intact pottery vessels, and a spearhead. Radiocarbon dating and other evidence […]
