Lex Fridman interviews Irving Finkel, a cuneiform expert, about the origins of writing, specifically cuneiform. Finkel discusses the development of cuneiform script, its flexibility, and the importance of lexicography in standardizing it. He controversially suggests that writing may be much older than currently believed, pointing to evidence from Göbekli Tepe. The conversation covers the deciphering process, the structure of Sumerian and Babylonian languages, and the role of a trilingual inscription in understanding cuneiform. Finkel also shares insights into Mesopotamian literature, religion, and the story of the ARC tablet, offering a unique perspective on ancient civilizations and their wisdom, and the Royal Game of Ur.
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