The invention of cuneiform : writing in Sumer /

In this English translation of a French work originally published in 2000, Glassner (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France) presents a strikingly original analysis of the origin of cuneiform writing. After a brief introduction, he discusses the Sumerian account of the invention of writing and summarizes the stratigraphic, chronological, and geographical contexts of the earliest known cuneiform texts. The next two chapters offer devastating critiques of existing theories, including the popular accounting theory championed by Denise Schmandt-Besserat (Before Writing, CH, Dec'92). These are followed by several chapters that analyze the earliest texts in great detail from a postmodern perspective, focusing on writing as an intellectual phenomenon. Glassner concludes by presenting his highly provocative thesis that cuneiform writing was an independent invention without clear antecedents and that it arose as a complete system at a specific time and place as a result of a conscious decision within Sumerian society to explore new ways of describing and thinking about their world. The writing style is difficult at times, but both specialists and nonspecialists will find this book of great interest. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. W. Kotter Weber State University