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

The Wadi el-Hol inscriptions, in the same script, sit among Egyptian inscriptions of the late Twelfth Dynasty, so the…

The Wadi el-Hol inscriptions, in the same script, sit among Egyptian inscriptions of the late Twelfth Dynasty, so the alphabet existed about 1850-1800 BC.

Supported0

What it means

Key questionWhen were the Serabit el-Khadim inscriptions written: in the Middle Kingdom, about 1850 BC, or in the New Kingdom?

4 answers, none ahead yet

Openunchanged

Answer this evidence bears onMiddle Kingdom, c. 1850-1800 BC

Supports2 for, none against

Still possibleunchanged

Sources 2

Theban Desert Road Survey in the Egyptian Western Desert, Volume 1: Gebel Tjauti Rock Inscriptions 1-45 and Wadi el-Hol Rock Inscriptions 1-45

Darnell et al. 2002

SRC

Two Early Alphabetic Inscriptions from the Wadi el-Hol: New Evidence for the Origin of the Alphabet from the Western Desert of Egypt

Darnell et al. 2005

SRC

Cite it

Mysteries Department. (2026). The Wadi el-Hol inscriptions, in the same script, sit among Egyptian inscriptions of the late Twelfth Dynasty, so the… [Evidence EVD0DEE97CKFCYT]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/EVD0DEE97CKFCYT

@misc{mysteriesdept_evd0dee97ckfcyt,
  title     = {The Wadi el-Hol inscriptions, in the same script, sit among Egyptian inscriptions of the late Twelfth Dynasty, so the…},
  author    = {{Mysteries Department}},
  year      = {2026},
  note      = {Evidence, catalog key EVD0DEE97CKFCYT},
  url       = {https://mysteriesdept.com/r/EVD0DEE97CKFCYT}
}