The ancient civilization credited with the invention of writing known as cuneiform is the Sumerians, who inhabited the region of Mesopotamia around 3500-3000 BCE. Cuneiform began as a system of pictographs that evolved into a complex script made up of wedge-shaped marks inscribed on clay tablets. This writing system was initially used for record-keeping, particularly for trade and agriculture, and later encompassed literature, law, and administration. Cuneiform is significant as one of the earliest known forms of writing, marking a pivotal development in human communication and the recording of history.