Cuneiform is one of the oldest forms of writing known, and it was used to write several languages of the Ancient Near East. The name "cuneiform" comes from the Latin word "cuneus," meaning "wedge-shaped," which refers to the characteristic wedge-shaped impressions that form the scripts signs. Cuneiform was originally developed to write the Sumerian language of southern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and was in active use from the early Bronze Age until the beginning of the Common Era. Over the course of its history, cuneiform was adapted to write a number of languages in addition to Sumerian, including Akkadian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Elamite, Hittite, Urartian, and Old Persian.
Cuneiform was used to record a variety of information such as temple activities, business, and trade, as well as stories, myths, and personal letters. The script was written on clay tablets using a reed stylus cut to make a wedge-shaped mark. The latest known example of cuneiform is an astronomical text from 75 C.E. .
The decipherment of cuneiform began in the 18th century as European scholars searched for proof of the places and events recorded in the Bible. Cuneiform tablets have been found in various locations, including Nineveh, and have been used to provide information about ancient Sumerian history and the history of humanity as a whole.
In summary, cuneiform is an ancient writing system that was used to write several languages of the Ancient Near East. It was written on clay tablets using a reed stylus cut to make a wedge-shaped mark and was used to record a variety of information such as temple activities, business, and trade, as well as stories, myths, and personal letters.
