Here's a breakdown:
* Early Decline: The use of cuneiform began to decline in the 1st millennium BCE, particularly after the rise of the Achaemenid Empire (550-330 BCE). The Persian Empire favored Aramaic as its official language, which led to a decline in the use of cuneiform in administration and commerce.
* Continued Use in Specific Contexts: However, cuneiform continued to be used in certain areas and for specific purposes. Babylonian astronomers and priests continued to use it to record their observations and rituals.
* Final Stages: By the early centuries CE, cuneiform was primarily confined to religious contexts and scholarly pursuits. The last known cuneiform inscription dates back to the 75th year of the Parthian Arsacid King, Osroes I, which corresponds to the year 75 CE.
* Lingering Influence: Even though the writing system itself died out, the influence of cuneiform persisted. Its principles were incorporated into the development of other writing systems, and its historical records continue to be studied and deciphered by scholars today.
Therefore, there isn't a single point in time when people "stopped" using cuneiform. Instead, it was a gradual process, with the writing system persisting longer in some areas and for specific purposes than in others.