Ancient Trade Symbols on Cylinder Seals: Key to Proto-Cuneiform and the Roots of Writing https://ift.tt/kiLrGxb Ancient Trade Symbols on Cylinder Seals: Key to Proto-Cuneiform and the Roots of Writing Researchers studying the roots of writing have highlighted the role of ancient trade symbols found on cylinder seals in Mesopotamia as key influencers of early script development. A recent study by Kathryn Kelley and Mattia Cartolano from the University of Bologna suggests that engravings on these cylindrical seals, used for marking clay in trade exchanges, may have evolved into signs …