Introduction

As the oldest known writing system, cuneiform has been a topic of particular interest in historical linguistics since the field's inception.
What motivated the invention of the cuneiform system within Ancient Mesopotamia and how exactly it developed have been perhaps the most popular avenues of inquiry.

This exhibit explores these questions by tracking the development of cuneiform through archeological evidence, ultimately supporting the prevailing theory that its development was (1) gradual and (2) primarily motivated by economic necessity.