Cuneiform D20

Cuneiform is one of the earliest known systems of writing, developed by the ancient Sumerians of Mesopotamia around 3500 BCE. The name comes from the Latin word cuneus, meaning “wedge,” which describes the wedge-shaped marks made by pressing a stylus into clay tablets. Initially used for record-keeping and administrative entries, cuneiform evolved over time to include literature, legal codes, and scientific texts. The writing system was in use for over three millennia, with the latest firmly dateable tablet coming from Uruk dating to 79/80 AD. Cuneiform’s development began in the city of Uruk around 3200 BCE, and it spread to other regions and cultures, including the Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians. The script was instrumental in immortalizing one Ea-nāṣir, a copper merchant of some ill repute, for all eternity.

Cuneiform numerals are a tickmark system in base ten. Each mark is made with reed stylus pressed into a clay tablet.

These cuneiform numerals have been struck in to black architectural-grade soapstone. Which gives these dice a dark charcoal dice a high-contrast easily read engraving. Soapstone can be worked with regular wood working tools, and when it turns to dust it magically becomes baby powder, keeping the minions’ hands soft and supple. The Architectural-grade soapstone used in this run has a much lower talc content than the artist-grade stone and thus makes for a much more durable die. Soapstone has many uses from countertops and fireplaces to pipes and figurines. Our favorite use for soapstone is as whiskey stones.