Ancient carved texts from Persepolis, Iran

© George Hall/Alam

Distant-past data. Persepolis, Iran

Cuneiform, a script characterized by wedge-shaped symbols, was used in transcribing numerous languages of the Ancient Near East, which region roughly corresponds to today's Middle East area. Its usage spanned from the early Bronze Age to the dawn of the 1st century CE. The publication of Achaemenid royal inscriptions at Persepolis—modern-day Iran—shed light again on cuneiform in the early 17th century. These inscriptions presented a mosaic of languages, a linguistic puzzle that would ultimately yield to the determined efforts of scholars in the 19th century. Unraveling the secrets of cuneiform opened a window into the past, allowing us to grasp the profound significance of this ancient script in shaping human history.