QuestionsProto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of UrukDo the roughly 440 personal names in the archaic texts follow Sumerian, Semitic or some other naming pattern?Answer
Answer · Proto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of Uruk
The names are drawn from the ordinary sign stock, with no language signal
The archaic names are built from the ordinary administrative sign stock with no preference for or against the Sumerian name elements, so their sign make-up does not identify a language.
Where it stands
Still possibleOne piece of evidence for, two against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.
What it predicts
- The element share of names falls inside the null's central 95% against both baselines.
- Almost every sign used in names is also used in non-name entries.
What would rule it out
- A clear enrichment or deficit, holding across archives and against a tagged Early Dynastic benchmark.
Evidence 1 for · 2 against
FOR
The questions it answers
Cite it
Mysteries Department. (2026). The names are drawn from the ordinary sign stock, with no language signal [Answer ANS0DFQRTNBNKDM]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DFQRTNBNKDM
@misc{mysteriesdept_ans0dfqrtnbnkdm,
title = {The names are drawn from the ordinary sign stock, with no language signal},
author = {{Mysteries Department}},
year = {2026},
note = {Answer, catalog key ANS0DFQRTNBNKDM},
url = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DFQRTNBNKDM}
}