The Sumerians used pictograms, which are symbols that directly represent objects or ideas. For example, the pictogram for a person was a simple drawing of a human figure, and the pictogram for a bird was a simple drawing of a bird.
Cuneiform
The Sumerians also used cuneiform, which is a system of writing that uses wedge-shaped marks. Cuneiform was developed from pictograms, and it eventually became the most widely used writing system in the ancient Middle East.
Stylus
The Sumerians used a stylus, which is a sharp-pointed tool, to make their symbols. The stylus was made of reed, bone, or metal, and it was used to press wedge-shaped marks into clay tablets.