Deciphering Secrets of Ancient Civilizations, Noah's Ark, and Flood Myths | Lex Fridman Podcast #487

Lex Fridman opened the conversation by framing a central question about the origins and significance of ancient writing systems, particularly focusing on cuneiform. Irving Finkel, a curator at the British Museum, immediately challenged conventional timelines by presenting evidence from Gobekli Tepe, suggesting that writing systems could have existed 7,000 years earlier than previously thought. This set the stage for a broader discussion on the evolution of writing and its implications for understanding ancient civilizations.

Finkel's main argument revolved around the complexity and longevity of cuneiform writing, which he detailed as evolving from pictographs to sound-based systems over three millennia. He provided concrete evidence, such as the trilingual inscription of King Darius at Bisutun, which was pivotal in deciphering cuneiform. Finkel also highlighted the intellectual demands of mastering cuneiform due to its multiple sign values and meanings, emphasizing the sophistication of ancient scholars.

Lex did not challenge Finkel's assertions about the early existence of writing at Gobekli Tepe, though the obvious counter-position would be the lack of widespread archaeological consensus on this claim. However, Finkel did face pushback regarding the contributions of Henry Rawlinson versus Edward Hincks in deciphering cuneiform, with Finkel advocating for Hincks' recognition. Additionally, Finkel's dismissal of the Younger Dryas hypothesis as a basis for flood myths was a point of contention, as it contradicted popular alternative theories.

The conversation concluded with Finkel's critique of monotheistic religions, arguing they introduced dogmatism and conflict, contrasting with the inclusivity of polytheism. This pivot highlighted Finkel's broader perspective on how ancient belief systems shaped societal structures. The discussion left open questions about the full extent of ancient writing systems and their impact on modern understanding of history, suggesting areas for future exploration.

Unresolved by the end of the conversation

• Lex asked whether the artifacts at Gobekli Tepe truly represent an early writing system, as Finkel claims, or if they are misinterpreted symbols.
• Finkel questioned how much of ancient cultures remains undiscovered and how this affects our understanding of history.

What a senior practitioner would find new

• Finkel suggests that Gobekli Tepe's round green stone with hieroglyphic signs indicates a writing system as early as 9000 BC, predating known Mesopotamian systems.
• The Ark Tablet describes a round boat for surviving a flood, contrasting with the biblical coffin-shaped ark, suggesting different cultural interpretations of the same myth.
• Finkel argues that the complexity of cuneiform required memorization of multiple sign values, highlighting the intellectual demands on ancient scholars.

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