PaleoPunic

PaleoPunic refers to the earliest known form of the Punic script, the writing system used by the Carthaginians and other Phoenician-speaking peoples of the ancient Mediterranean. This script emerged during the first millennium BCE and is considered a direct descendant of the older Phoenician alphabet, which itself evolved from the Proto-Canaanite script. The PaleoPunic script is notable for its distinctive features, including a more angular and less rounded appearance compared to later Punic inscriptions.

The earliest examples of PaleoPunic date back to the 9th century BCE, with inscriptions found primarily in Carthage and other Punic settlements across North Africa and the western Mediterranean. These inscriptions are typically short, often consisting of personal names, dedications, or brief inscriptions on pottery and metal objects. The script was used primarily for administrative and commercial purposes, as well as for religious and funerary texts.

One of the most significant PaleoPunic inscriptions is the *Cippus of Tanit*, discovered in Carthage, which dates to around the 5th century BCE. This stone slab contains a dedication to the Carthaginian goddess Tanit and provides valuable insight into the religious practices of the time. The script gradually evolved into the more refined Punic alphabet seen in later inscriptions, particularly after the 4th century BCE.

PaleoPunic shares many similarities with the Phoenician script, including its 22-letter consonant-based system, though it introduced some unique characters, such as a ligature for the digraph *sh*. The script was later adapted by the Romans to create the Latin alphabet, which became the foundation for many modern European writing systems. Despite its historical significance, PaleoPunic remains less studied than its Phoenician and Punic successors, with most research focusing on later Punic inscriptions and the broader context of Phoenician-Punic epigraphy.