# Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz)

> Still possible: The Umm el-Marra cylinders carry early alphabetic writing of about 2400 BC, five centuries before the Egyptian evidence.

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Proto-Sinaitic and Wadi el-Hol: the first alphabet](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic)[Are the Umm el-Marra clay cylinders of about 2400 BC alphabetic writing?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc)Answer

Answer · Proto-Sinaitic and Wadi el-Hol: the first alphabet

# Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz)

The Umm el-Marra cylinders carry early alphabetic writing of about 2400 BC, five centuries before the Egyptian evidence.

**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

- More third-millennium Syrian objects with the same signs will be found.
- The signs will behave as a small fixed inventory with consonantal values consistent across objects.
- The forms will match the earliest Sinai letters more closely than any other sign system.

## What would rule it out

- Demonstration that the cylinders are intrusive from the second millennium.
- A better match of the signs with a non-alphabetic system (potters' marks, Early Bronze Syrian marks) or no further finds after systematic search.

## Evidence 1 for · 1 against

[The cylinder signs resemble Early Alphabetic letter forms, and their position on the tomb floor under collapsed…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/evidence/EVD0DEEAYVVG4DQ/the-cylinder-signs-resemble-early-alphabetic-letter-forms)

Suggestive

FOR

[Twelve signs of eight shapes cannot show whether a system is alphabetic, and nothing comparable is known for the next…](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/evidence/EVD0DEEB12E7SF2/twelve-signs-of-eight-shapes-cannot-show-whether-a-system-is)

Suggestive

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[Are the Umm el-Marra clay cylinders of about 2400 BC alphabetic writing?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc)

Open3 answers, none ahead

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz) [Answer ANS0DEDYNPG321Z]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0DEDYNPG321Z
```

Key

**ANS** 0DEDYNPG321Z

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Proposed

[Session 1](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/sessions/SES0DEEC4SCCB1B/session-1-proto-sinaitic-and-wadi-el-hol-seeded-corpus) · 31 Oct 2026

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