How to Write in Cuneiform, the Oldest Writing System in the World: A Short Introduction
Key Takeaways
- Dr. Irving Finkel, a cuneiform expert at the British Museum, is recruiting new scholars to study the museum's collection of over 130,000 Mesopotamian tablets.
- Cuneiform is the world's oldest writing system, consisting of syllabic marks made by pressing a reed stylus into clay.
- Mastering cuneiform requires approximately six years of dedicated study, though the basic mechanical process is relatively simple.
- The British Museum offers open access for researchers to study the extensive cuneiform collection in its dedicated study room.
- Dr. Finkel was inspired by cuneiform to write a horror novel that was successfully funded via Kickstarter.
Dr. Irving Finkel, a specialist in ancient Mesopotamian medicine and magic at the British Museum, is actively seeking new recruits to decipher the institution's collection of over 130,000 cuneiform tablets. While teaching visitors to write their names in the ancient script is a favorite activity, Finkel has grander ambitions for dedicated study of the historical artifacts. Cuneiform, the oldest writing system in the world, is syllabic and involves creating wedge-shaped marks by pressing a reed stylus into clay, a mechanical process that is easy to grasp but requires about six years of dedicated study to master. The British Museum's Department of the Middle East maintains an open access policy, allowing researchers to work closely with the vast collection spanning from the Early Dynastic period to the Neo-Babylonian Empire. Beyond his academic work, Dr. Finkel was inspired by cuneiform to write a horror novel, which followed a successful Kickstarter campaign. The article also mentions related content, including ancient Babylonian recipes and musical reconstructions.
