ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Cuneiform Numbers and Punctuation

Cuneiform is a special way of writing words and numbers that was used a long, long time ago in a place called Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). It was done by making marks on clay tablets using a reed pen.

When it comes to cuneiform numbers, they are written using different combinations of symbols that stand for the numbers 1, 10, 60, and 3,600. These can be put together to make bigger numbers, just like how you can use blocks to make bigger towers. For example, a combination of symbols for 1 and 10 would represent the number 11.

Now, onto punctuation. You know how when you read a sentence there are little dots, lines, and squiggles that separate different parts and help you understand what's going on? That's what punctuation is. In cuneiform writing, there were also special symbols used for punctuation. For example, a wedge shape was used to show the end of a sentence, just like how a period is used in our writing today. There were also symbols to show things like questions and pauses in the text.

So there you have it - cuneiform numbers and punctuation were important parts of ancient writing that helped people keep track of numbers and understand what they were reading.