The Wadi el-Hol inscriptions are two rock inscriptions which appear to show the oldest examples of phonetic alphabetic writing discovered to date.[1][2]
Wadi el-Hol inscriptions II drawing
Wadi el-Hol (where Wadi means valley in Arabic) is a valley on the Farshut Road, north-west of Luxor on the Qena Bend, situated on the west bank of the river Nile in Egypt.[3]
In 1993, American egyptologists Deborah Darnell and her then husband John Darnell found letters in two single-line rock inscriptions carved into limestone cliffs in the Wadi el-Hol valley. They returned to the site for several seasons through the 1990s to further study the inscriptions. In 1999, they finally published their research, concluding that they had found the earliest surviving alphabet, dating back to around 1800 to 1900 BCE.[4][5] In particular, the inscriptions appear to resemble the Proto-Sinaitic script from Serabit el-Khadem.
^Goldwasser, Orly (Mar–Apr 2010). "How the Alphabet Was Born from Hieroglyphs". Biblical Archaeology Review. 36 (1). Washington, DC: Biblical Archaeology Society. ISSN 0098-9444. Retrieved 6 Nov 2011.
^LeBlanc, P.D. (2017). Deciphering the Proto-Sinaitic Script: Making Sense of the Wadi el-Hol and Serabit el-Khadim Early Alphabetic Inscriptions. Unknown Publisher. ISBN978-0-9952844-0-1. Retrieved 2023-04-30. 11
^Baker, Dorie (13 December 1999). "Finding sheds new light on the alphabet's origins". Yale Bulletin and Calendar.
^"Oldest alphabet found in Egypt". BBC. 15 November 1999.
^WILFORD, John Noble (13 November 1999). "Discovery of Egyptian Inscriptions Indicates an Earlier Date for Origin of the Alphabet". The New York Times.
Further readingedit
Darnell, John Coleman; Dobbs-Allsopp, F. W.; Lundberg, Marilyn J.; McCarter, P. Kyle; Zuckerman, Bruce (2005). "Two Early Alphabetic Inscriptions from the Wadi el-Hôl". The Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research. 59: 63, 65, 67–71, 73–113, 115–124. JSTOR 3768583.
External linksedit
WADI EL-HOL by John Darnell – UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology
January 01, 1970
wadi, inscriptions, rock, inscriptions, which, appear, show, oldest, examples, phonetic, alphabetic, writing, discovered, date, drawing, wadi, where, wadi, means, valley, arabic, valley, farshut, road, north, west, luxor, qena, bend, situated, west, bank, rive. The Wadi el Hol inscriptions are two rock inscriptions which appear to show the oldest examples of phonetic alphabetic writing discovered to date 1 2 Wadi el Hol inscriptions II drawing Wadi el Hol where Wadi means valley in Arabic is a valley on the Farshut Road north west of Luxor on the Qena Bend situated on the west bank of the river Nile in Egypt 3 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory editIn 1993 American egyptologists Deborah Darnell and her then husband John Darnell found letters in two single line rock inscriptions carved into limestone cliffs in the Wadi el Hol valley They returned to the site for several seasons through the 1990s to further study the inscriptions In 1999 they finally published their research concluding that they had found the earliest surviving alphabet dating back to around 1800 to 1900 BCE 4 5 In particular the inscriptions appear to resemble the Proto Sinaitic script from Serabit el Khadem See also editTheban Desert Road Survey Patterns of Evidence Proto Sinaitic script Serabit el Khadim Writing systemReferences edit Goldwasser Orly Mar Apr 2010 How the Alphabet Was Born from Hieroglyphs Biblical Archaeology Review 36 1 Washington DC Biblical Archaeology Society ISSN 0098 9444 Retrieved 6 Nov 2011 LeBlanc P D 2017 Deciphering the Proto Sinaitic Script Making Sense of the Wadi el Hol and Serabit el Khadim Early Alphabetic Inscriptions Unknown Publisher ISBN 978 0 9952844 0 1 Retrieved 2023 04 30 11 Baker Dorie 13 December 1999 Finding sheds new light on the alphabet s origins Yale Bulletin and Calendar Oldest alphabet found in Egypt BBC 15 November 1999 WILFORD John Noble 13 November 1999 Discovery of Egyptian Inscriptions Indicates an Earlier Date for Origin of the Alphabet The New York Times Further reading editDarnell John Coleman Dobbs Allsopp F W Lundberg Marilyn J McCarter P Kyle Zuckerman Bruce 2005 Two Early Alphabetic Inscriptions from the Wadi el Hol The Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research 59 63 65 67 71 73 113 115 124 JSTOR 3768583 External links editWADI EL HOL by John Darnell UCLA Encyclopedia of Egyptology Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wadi el Hol inscriptions amp oldid 1185404044, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
