The symbols “appear 11 times in total on the cylinders and some are repeated, evidence that they might be part of an alphabet. Two of the four cylinders seem to have the same sequence, finishing ...

While still a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, UC Santa Cruz professor Elaine Sullivan unearthed ancient artifacts in Syria marked with the oldest known alphabetic symbols.

The alphabet, or script, has at least 21 symbols, officials said. Some symbols look similar to the modern Latin alphabet used in English, Spanish and several other languages.

An alphabetic inscription written on a jar fragment found at the site of Tel Lachish in Israel and dating back around 3,450 years may provide a "missing link" in the history of the alphabet.

The symbols “appear 11 times in total on the cylinders and some are repeated, evidence that they might be part of an alphabet. Two of the four cylinders seem to have the same sequence, finishing ...

The alphabet, or script, has at least 21 symbols, officials said. Some symbols look similar to the modern Latin alphabet used in English, Spanish and several other languages.