Scientists discover the oldest alphabet in Syria – It is 500 years older than we know

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University have unearthed evidence of what may be the oldest alphabet in human history. The writing was found inscribed on finger-sized clay cylinders during an archaeological dig in an ancient city in Syria.

The discovery of this ancient alphabet was announced at the annual meeting of the American Society for Overseas Research (ASOR).

The team, led by Professor Glenn Schwartz, made the discovery while excavating an ancient tomb at Umm el Mara in Syria. They found small clay cylinders marked with symbols that could potentially represent an alphabet.

Once a thriving city in western Syria, Umm el Mara is recognised as one of the earliest urban centres in the region. Alongside researchers from the University of Amsterdam, Professor Schwartz, a renowned expert on ancient cities, was involved in a 16-year excavation of the site. During this excavation, they unearthed graves dating back to the Early Bronze Age. One of the most well-preserved tombs contained six skeletons, gold and silver jewellery, cooking utensils, a spearhead, and intact ceramic vessels.

Researchers discovered four small clay scrolls near the vessels, each marked with what appears to be early alphabetic writing. Each cylinder featured a hole and the clay was only lightly fired. According to Professor Glenn Schwartz, these objects could have served as labels. The writing, which dates back to approximately 2400 BC, predates all other known alphabetic scripts by roughly 500 years. This discovery challenges existing archaeological knowledge about the origins of alphabets, how they were spread across societies, and their implications for early urban cultures.

“The scrolls were perforated, so I envision a string tying them to another object to serve as a label. Perhaps they detail the contents of a vessel, or maybe where the vessel originated, or to whom it belonged,” Schwartz explained. “Without a way to translate the writing, we are left to speculate.” Using carbon-14 dating techniques, the researchers verified the age of the tombs, artifacts, and writing. “Previously, scholars believed the alphabet was invented in or around Egypt sometime after 1900 B.C.,” Schwartz said. “But our artifacts are older and from a different region, suggesting that the alphabet may have a completely different origin story than we previously thought.”