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Decoding Cuneiform, One of the Earliest Forms of Writing

The ancient Sumerians developed this writing system more than 5,000 years ago. Tens of thousands of cuneiform tablets still await translation.

By Avery Hurt
Nov 5, 2020 8:15 PMNov 5, 2020 9:16 PM
Cuniform inscription on the wall of Erebuni Fortress in Yerevan, Armenia - Shutterstock
(Credit: Kirill Skorobogatko/Shutterstock)

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It’s not a language. It’s not an alphabet, either, exactly. But if you want to read the original Epic of Gilgamesh, or study the trade records of the ancient Sumerians, cuneiform is the only game in town.

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