{"id":1540,"date":"2024-11-25T11:02:11","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T11:02:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/brazilianinstituteoftechnology.com\/?page_id=1540"},"modified":"2024-11-25T11:02:11","modified_gmt":"2024-11-25T11:02:11","slug":"as-origens-antigas-da-escrita-os-misteriosos-simbolos-de-6000-anos","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/terrarara.com.br\/en\/?page_id=1540","title":{"rendered":"The Ancient Origins of Writing: The Mysterious 6,000-Year-Old Symbols"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A clay tablet made using proto-cuneiform writing. (Vorderasiatisches Museum, Berlin, Germany)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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\r\n\tdoi.org\/10.15184\/aqy.2024.165<\/a>
Credibility<\/a>: 9<\/font>8<\/font>9<\/font>
#Escrita<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>

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\r\n\tThousands of years ago, humans began drawing and engraving symbols to represent ideas.<\/p>

\r\nBut when did these records become what we call writing”<\/p>

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How did writing emerge?\r\n<\/p>

\r\nResearchers at the University of Bologna in Italy have discovered that ancient symbols found on Mesopotamian seals may have been the beginning of a visual communication system called proto-cuneiform.<\/p>

\r\nThis system later evolved into one of the world’s earliest forms of writing.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nWhat is Proto-Cuneiform?\r\n<\/p>

\r\nProto-cuneiform is a primitive way of writing, used to represent simple ideas without grammatical rules.<\/p>

\r\nThese symbols were drawn or printed on materials such as clay.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nScientists compared the designs found on ancient cylinder seals with already known proto-cuneiform signs.<\/p>

\r\nThey noticed that certain designs, such as fringed fabrics or net-covered vases, had similar shapes to symbols used in proto-cuneiform.\r\n<\/p>

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Comparison of the ‘fringed cloth’ motif and proto-cuneiform signs. (Kelley et al., Antiquity, 2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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\r\nFor example<\/b>\r\n<\/p>

\r\n– Symbols representing fabrics in proto-cuneiform have triangular shapes with lines pointing downwards, looking like threads of fabric.<\/p>

\r\n– On the cylinder seals, there are images of people weaving, with similar shapes.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nWhy is this important?\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThe invention of writing was a great step for humanity.<\/p>

\r\nBefore her, symbols were used to record simple things like commercial exchanges.<\/p>

\r\nThese cylinder seals were used to “impress” records on clay tablets.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nWith proto-cuneiform, people were able to create an accounting system tracking the production and trade of items such as food and textiles.\r\n<\/p>

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Examples of the netted-vessel and fringed cloth motifs from pre-literate documents (A”C) and a proto-cuneiform account of wool\/garments and linen (D & E). (Kelley et al., Antiquity, 2024)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>
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\r\nWhat Does This Discovery Reveal?\r\n<\/p>

\r\nProfessor Silvia Ferrara, who led the research, explained<\/b>\r\n<\/p>

\r\n– Cylinder seal designs helped create the first writing systems.<\/p>

\r\n– Writing was an evolution of symbols used to represent simple ideas.\r\n<\/p>

\r\nThis discovery shows how humans transformed images and symbols into something much more complex: a system that changed history.<\/p>

\r\nAfter all, writing is what marks the passage from prehistory to history!\r\n<\/p>

\r\nNow, we know that the symbols on these ancient seals were much more than just drawings ” they were the first steps towards written communication.<\/p>

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Published in 11\/25\/2024 11h02<\/em><\/p>\r\n

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Portuguese version<\/a><\/em><\/p>\r\n

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Original article: <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n