# The token theory

> Still possible: Plain clay tokens are the ancestors of the numerical signs, and complex tokens prefigure the commodity signs.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/answers/ANS0DEDW56J28YC/the-token-theory  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Proto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of Uruk](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform)[Were the clay tokens and bullae the direct ancestors of the proto-cuneiform signs?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT894EG53/were-the-clay-tokens-and-bullae-the-direct-ancestors-of-the)Answer

Answer · Proto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of Uruk

# The token theory

Plain clay tokens are the ancestors of the numerical signs, and complex tokens prefigure the commodity signs.

**Still possible** Answers **1** question0

## Where it stands

**Still possible** One piece of evidence for, one against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- Token shapes and sign shapes co-vary beyond chance when tested statistically.
- Bullae with tokens and matching surface impressions will be found with early numerical tablets.

## What would rule it out

- A covariance test of token and sign shapes finds no association beyond chance.
- Complex tokens prove to be beads, gaming pieces or other objects in their find contexts.

## Evidence 1 for · 1 against

[Plain tokens sealed in bullae and impressed on their surfaces precede and resemble the numerical signs of the Uruk V…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/evidence/EVD0DEDXNNPM05C/plain-tokens-sealed-in-bullae-and-impressed-on-their)

Supported

FOR

[The links between complex tokens and commodity signs rest on visual resemblance, most token subtypes are unique or…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/evidence/EVD0DEDXNTS6VYG/the-links-between-complex-tokens-and-commodity-signs-rest-on)

Supported

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[Were the clay tokens and bullae the direct ancestors of the proto-cuneiform signs?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT894EG53/were-the-clay-tokens-and-bullae-the-direct-ancestors-of-the)

OpenNo answer ahead yet

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). The token theory [Answer ANS0DEDW56J28YC]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DEDW56J28YC
```

Key

**ANS** 0DEDW56J28YC

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Proposed

[Session 1](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/sessions/SES0DEDZMVP66KE/session-1-proto-cuneiform-seeded-corpus-readings-and-open) · 31 Oct 2026

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