Sumerian cuneiform is one of the earliest writing systems in the world, developed by the Sumerians around 3200 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia. It consists of wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets using a stylus. Initially used for record-keeping, it evolved to express a range of ideas, including literature, laws, and administrative documents. The writing system began as pictographs, representing objects or concepts, but gradually transformed into abstract symbols. Cuneiform was used by various cultures, including the Akkadians and Babylonians, and remained in use for over three millennia, influencing later writing systems in the region.