New research suggests that the world's oldest known writing system, cuneiform, was influenced by symbols used for trade in ancient Mesopotamia. Archaeologists discovered preliterate "cylinder seals" used in the exchange of agricultural products and textiles, which were later developed into signs used in proto-cuneiform script. The findings provide insight into how meaning was transferred from preliterate motifs to written script.

Source: https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/origins-of-worlds-earliest-writing-point-to-symbols-on-seals-used-in-mesopotamian-trade