Charles, I read the same story and thought along very similar line. If the Cushites didn’t have a penchant for lapidary inscriptions, why would we expect to find evidence of their writing?

When I think of how many clay bullae have we found in Mesopotamia that had affixed Aramaic scrolls, or your example of Luwian written on wood (which I hadn’t heard before, thanks) it makes your remember how we truly are left with the accidents of history and the fortunes of the spade.

Meroitic.

Glad I have two amens. Jim, you bring up another good analogue.

Charles, like Jim I had not heard of Luwian being written on wood. Would you mind letting us know where you came across that bit of information? Perhaps Melchert has said it somehwere? Thanks!

I heard it from an HUC grad who studied Hittite with Matitiahu Tsevat. I don’t have any print reference so I don’t know how reliable that info was. But, the person said that the scribes wrote important stuff in Hittite upon durable materials while Luwian was used for less important stuff and written on perishable materials including wood…

Interesting analogies, but I don’t think they are necessary in this case. Meroitic is a known language. One of my classmates works on it–he’s one of the few in the world.

I skimmed the article, and perhaps I missing something major, but I thought that the height of Nubian expansion was during the 3rd Intermediate Period? Under our pal Pianky.

Charles, on another note that may be impetus for later discussion, but do you feel comfortable with the phrase Bible and
ancient Near East? See T. Lewis’ discussion in his intro to Albright’s recent release with WJK.

I’ll check Lewis’ statement, thanks for the reference.