Uploaded November 2023 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
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Scattered around the sites of ancient Mesopotamia are thousands of devices called cylinder seals. They are equal parts stamp, credit card, and jewelry. They were how people signed for things and proved who they were in the days before paper. It’s a fascinating relic of a time long past and proof that the same issues of authentication that blockchain was developed to solve have been a part of humanity from day one.
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And my podcast channel, Conversations With Joe:
youtube.com/channel/UCJzc7TiJ2nnuyJkUpOZ8RKA
You can listen to my podcast, Conversations With Joe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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LINKS LINKS LINKS
govinfo.gov/about/authentication
hbr.org/2022/05/what-is-web3
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-59745-301-1_5
archaeology.org/issues/422-2105/features/9592-ancient-tax-time
thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-signet-rings
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_seal#/media/File:S03_06_01_017_image_2348.jpg
https://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/collections/notable-collections/profiles/cylinder-seals.html
metmuseum.org/blogs/metkids/2018/cylinder-seals-tiny-treasures-that-leave-a-big-impression
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/327685
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/373418?journalCode=jnes
cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=use_of_seals
nature.com/articles/143999a0
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmec_hieroglyphs
mashable.com/article/tiffany-nfts-cryptopunks
nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=51456&from=
ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-writings/leaving-impression-revealing-intricate-story-sumerian-cylinder-seals-021262https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmec_hieroglyphs
nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=51456&from=
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Federal Authenticity
3:20 - Ancient Identification
4:40 - Advantages of Cylinder Seals
7:31 - Seals as Status Symbols
9:20 - Eventual Decline
11:25 - Sponsor - Brilliant
Visit brilliant.org/answerswithjoe to start your 30-day free trial, and the first 200 people will get 20% off their annual premium subscription.
Scattered around the sites of ancient Mesopotamia are thousands of devices called cylinder seals. They are equal parts stamp, credit card, and jewelry. They were how people signed for things and proved who they were in the days before paper. It’s a fascinating relic of a time long past and proof that the same issues of authentication that blockchain was developed to solve have been a part of humanity from day one.
Want to support the channel? Here's how:
Patreon: patreon.com/answerswithjoe
Channel Memberships: youtube.com/channel/UC-2YHgc363EdcusLIBbgxzg/join
T-Shirts & Merch: answerswithjoe.com/store
Check out my 2nd channel, Joe Scott TMI:
youtube.com/channel/UCqi721JsXlf0wq3Z_cNA_Ew
And my podcast channel, Conversations With Joe:
youtube.com/channel/UCJzc7TiJ2nnuyJkUpOZ8RKA
You can listen to my podcast, Conversations With Joe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Spotify 👉 spoti.fi/37iPGzF
Apple Podcasts 👉 apple.co/3j94kfq
Google Podcasts 👉 bit.ly/3qZCo1V
Interested in getting a Tesla or going solar? Use my referral link and get discounts and perks:
https://ts.la/joe74700
Follow me at all my places!
Instagram: instagram.com/answerswithjoe
TikTok: tiktok.com/@answerswithjoe
Facebook: facebook.com/answerswithjoe
Twitter: twitter.com/answerswithjoe
LINKS LINKS LINKS
govinfo.gov/about/authentication
hbr.org/2022/05/what-is-web3
link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-59745-301-1_5
archaeology.org/issues/422-2105/features/9592-ancient-tax-time
thehistorypress.co.uk/articles/a-brief-history-of-signet-rings
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_seal#/media/File:S03_06_01_017_image_2348.jpg
https://www.spurlock.illinois.edu/collections/notable-collections/profiles/cylinder-seals.html
metmuseum.org/blogs/metkids/2018/cylinder-seals-tiny-treasures-that-leave-a-big-impression
metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/327685
https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/373418?journalCode=jnes
cdli.ox.ac.uk/wiki/doku.php?id=use_of_seals
nature.com/articles/143999a0
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmec_hieroglyphs
mashable.com/article/tiffany-nfts-cryptopunks
nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=51456&from=
ancient-origins.net/artifacts-ancient-writings/leaving-impression-revealing-intricate-story-sumerian-cylinder-seals-021262https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmec_hieroglyphs
nsf.gov/news/mmg/mmg_disp.jsp?med_id=51456&from=
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
1:32 - Federal Authenticity
3:20 - Ancient Identification
4:40 - Advantages of Cylinder Seals
7:31 - Seals as Status Symbols
9:20 - Eventual Decline
11:25 - Sponsor - Brilliant
