Development of the Alphabet

Although the details are the subject of active research and scholarly debate, there is a rough consensus on the general development of writing and the series of stages that were involved. However, many scholars disagree about the precise dates or sources of the changes that moved writing from one stage to the next.

In the earliest stage, any culture possesses a system of meaning; in fact, that is usually a key component of any definition of “culture.” People communicate that meaning through verbal means, gestures, and physical markings. Cultures throughout the world have placed these markings in the sand, on rocks and trees, and on
individuals' bodies. A palm print on the wall of a cave is not usually considered to be“writing,” but it may well qualify as such, given that it is an enduring representation of meaning.


A Sumerian clay tablet from Ancient Mesopotamia features incised cuneiform characters thatprovide a tally of sheep and goats. (Gianni DagliOrti/Corbis)
Over time, these symbol systems evolve and begin to serve more complex functions in society. Denise Schmandt-Besserat (1989) has made the case that the use of tokens for    accounting was a major-precursor of writing in Sumeria.