What is considered one of the earliest writing systems developed?

Cuneiform is recognized as one of the earliest writing systems developed, originating in ancient Mesopotamia around 3200 BCE. This system utilized a series of wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets with a stylus, which were employed for administrative, economic, literary, and legal purposes. Cuneiform's significance lies not only in its role as a means of communication but also in its impact on the advancement of complex societies by enabling record-keeping and the transmission of knowledge.

While hieroglyphics also represent an ancient writing system, it developed later than cuneiform and was primarily used in Egyptian culture for monumental and religious texts. Latin script, though influential in many later writing developments, stems from a much later period in history. Sundials, on the other hand, are timekeeping devices and do not pertain to writing systems. This context reinforces why cuneiform is correctly identified at the forefront of early writing methods.