# Are the Umm el-Marra clay cylinders of about 2400 BC alphabetic writing? · Proto-Sinaitic and Wadi el-Hol: the first alphabet > Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-31T16:18:55+00:00 --- **0** # Are the Umm el-Marra clay cylinders of about 2400 BC alphabetic writing? Asked 31 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Three answers, none ahead** None is ahead yet. See what would settle it. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. None is ahead on the evidence yet. Three are still possible. ## Why it matters Four perforated clay cylinders from Tomb 4 at Umm el-Marra, dated by pottery and radiocarbon to about 2450-2300 BC, carry twelve incised signs of eight distinct shapes; Schwartz reads them as early alphabetic letters and Rollston agrees the shapes match⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJP7MYCQW/early-non-cuneiform-writing-third-millennium-bc-clay)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJPDYSZQF/non-cuneiform-writing-at-third-millennium-umm-el-marra-syria)⁠[[3]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJPS7A1RQ/tell-umm-el-marra-syria-and-early-alphabetic-in-the-third). Steele objects that eight signs cannot show what kind of system they belong to, the Syrian antiquities directorate has disputed the claim, and no comparable third-millennium text is known⁠[[4]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJQ9VP421/worlds-oldest-alphabet-found-on-an-ancient-clay-gift-tag)⁠[[5]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJQ3TWGYG/syria-mesopotamia-and-the-origins-of-the-alphabet). ## Answers 3 [**Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz)** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/answers/ANS0DEDYNPG321Z/alphabetic-writing-of-c-2400-bc-schwartz) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**Marks or a local notation, not an alphabet** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/answers/ANS0DEDYP432ZQ6/marks-or-a-local-notation-not-an-alphabet) Evidence for it, no test yet Evidence: 1 for Still possible [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/answers/ANS0DEDYPP227N7/none-of-these) Not tested yet Evidence: none yet Still possible ## Next steps 1 1 Compare the eight Umm el-Marra sign shapes with Early Bronze Syrian potters' marks as a null model, alongside the Early Alphabetic forms. ~10 h **—** not judged Ranked by how likely each is to move the key question, for the time it takes ## History 1. 2010[Glenn M. Schwartz: sign-like marks used without being writing are common in the region, and the cylinder sequences correspond to no known…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJP7MYCQW/early-non-cuneiform-writing-third-millennium-bc-clay)For: Marks or a local notation, not an alphabet 1. 2010[Glenn M. Schwartz: twelve signs of eight shapes cannot show whether a system is alphabetic, and nothing comparable is known for the next…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJP7MYCQW/early-non-cuneiform-writing-third-millennium-bc-clay)Against: Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz) 1. 2021[Glenn M. Schwartz: the cylinder signs resemble Early Alphabetic letter forms, and their position on the tomb floor under collapsed…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJPDYSZQF/non-cuneiform-writing-at-third-millennium-umm-el-marra-syria)For: Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz) 1. 2021[Christopher A. Rollston: the cylinder signs resemble Early Alphabetic letter forms, and their position on the tomb floor under collapsed…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJPS7A1RQ/tell-umm-el-marra-syria-and-early-alphabetic-in-the-third)For: Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz) 1. 2023[Ben Haring: sign-like marks used without being writing are common in the region, and the cylinder sequences correspond to no known…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDKGJP9JRW/hieroglyphs-pseudo-scripts-and-alphabets-their-use-and)For: Marks or a local notation, not an alphabet 1. 2024[Scientific American: twelve signs of eight shapes cannot show whether a system is alphabetic, and nothing comparable is known for the next…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJQ9VP421/worlds-oldest-alphabet-found-on-an-ancient-clay-gift-tag)Against: Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz) 1. 2024[Scientific American: the cylinder signs resemble Early Alphabetic letter forms, and their position on the tomb floor under collapsed…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0DEDJQ9VP421/worlds-oldest-alphabet-found-on-an-ancient-clay-gift-tag)For: Alphabetic writing of c. 2400 BC (Schwartz) 1. Oct 2026[Session 1: raised the question and proposed three answers](https://mysteriesdept.com/records/SES0DEEC4SCCB1B/session-1-proto-sinaitic-and-wadi-el-hol-seeded-corpus) ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/proto-sinaitic/questions/QST0DEDW8MZFBEA/are-the-umm-el-marra-clay-cylinders-of-about-2400-bc%23add-source) Where it fits Proto-Sinaitic and Wadi el-Hol: the first alphabet **Are the Umm el-Marra clay cylinders of about 2400 BC alphabetic writing?** Key question · you're here [ Ask a question under this one ]