* Wedge-shaped marks: The basic element of cuneiform writing was the wedge, created by pressing a stylus into soft clay. These wedges were combined in various arrangements to form different symbols.
* Variety of signs: Cuneiform used a large number of signs, each representing a syllable, a word, or a grammatical concept. Some signs had multiple readings depending on context.
* Directionality: Early cuneiform was written vertically, with the signs arranged in columns. Later, it transitioned to being written horizontally from left to right.
* Appearance on tablets: Cuneiform was typically inscribed on clay tablets, which were then baked to preserve the writing. These tablets could be flat, cylindrical, or even shaped like cones.
Here's an example of a cuneiform inscription:
[Image of cuneiform inscription on a clay tablet]
This example shows how the wedge-shaped marks are combined to create different signs, and how they are arranged in columns to form words and sentences.
To get a better idea of how cuneiform looked, you can search for images online using keywords like "cuneiform script," "cuneiform tablet," or "cuneiform writing."