c. 2000-1700 BC. Babylonian. Terracotta cuneiform tablet in a light brown fabric with written script on one side. Cuneiform (from cuneus, Latin for "wedge") writing, which derives its name from the distinctive shape of its letters, is one of the earliest forms of writing and developed in ancient Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC. Various cuneiform writing systems remained in use for thousands of years. Babylon was a provincial city which conquered and ruled most of Mesopotamia during the 2nd millennium BC. Good condition.Size: L:125mm / W:60mm ; 560g; Provenance: From the private collection of J.Jones, accompanied by paperwork from an American scholar; formerly in a 1960s estate collection.