# Were the clay tokens and bullae the direct ancestors of the proto-cuneiform signs? · Proto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of Uruk

> One answer has been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. One is still possible.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/questions/QST0DEDT894EG53/were-the-clay-tokens-and-bullae-the-direct-ancestors-of-the  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
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Updated: 2026-10-31T15:41:27+00:00  

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# Were the clay tokens and bullae the direct ancestors of the proto-cuneiform signs?

Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·1 answer·0·0 following

**One answer, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it.

 

## Where it stands

One answer has been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. One is still possible.

## Why it matters

Schmandt-Besserat argued that clay counters, sealed in clay envelopes and impressed on their surfaces, became the numerical signs, and that complex tokens became commodity signs⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJ9W53AAY/before-writing-volume-i-from-counting-to-cuneiform). The first step is widely accepted; the second rests on visual resemblance between tokens and signs, most token types are rare, and no agreed criterion separates a numerical token from a bead or a gaming piece⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJAZ7E2W9/review-of-denise-schmandt-besserat-before-writing)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDGX6K5549/texts-from-the-late-uruk-period).

## Answers 1



[**The token theory** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-cuneiform/answers/ANS0DEDW56J28YC/the-token-theory)

Evidence for it, no test yet

Evidence: 1 for, 1 against

Still possible

## History

1. 1992[Denise Schmandt-Besserat: plain tokens sealed in bullae and impressed on their surfaces precede and resemble the numerical signs of the Uruk V…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJ9W53AAY/before-writing-volume-i-from-counting-to-cuneiform)For: The token theory
1. 1993[Paul Zimansky: the links between complex tokens and commodity signs rest on visual resemblance, most token subtypes are unique or…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJAZ7E2W9/review-of-denise-schmandt-besserat-before-writing)Against: The token theory
1. 1998[Robert K. Englund: plain tokens sealed in bullae and impressed on their surfaces precede and resemble the numerical signs of the Uruk V…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDGX6K5549/texts-from-the-late-uruk-period)For: The token theory
1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question, proposed one answer and found two results bearing on its answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DEDZMVP66KE/session-1-proto-cuneiform-seeded-corpus-readings-and-open)

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Proto-cuneiform: the archaic texts of Uruk

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