Irving Finkel Teaches Us Cuneiform

Dr Irving Finkel of the British Museum shows Matt and Tom how to write cuneiform on a clay tablet.
Irving's Kickstarter completed, and you can now get his book here: medinapublishing.com/books/th...
Kickstarter: www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
MATT: / mattgrayyes | TOM: / tomscottgo

[@mattandtom]

Thanks to Irving Finkel for joining us on the bench, and to all at the British Museum for your help putting this together! --Matt

[@jcbdwsn]

It was probably uploaded either private or unlisted before.

[@numberbird23]

Matt and Tom Can I get the cheat sheet anywhere?

[@EXPHunterForce]

Irving is the best! Can he be a regular? Can he also be my grandfather?

[@clarenceho01]

like kanji? yeah... no... like kana: hiragana and katakana

[@Em3rgency2]

Irving is freaking awesome. MORE OF HIM!

[@stephenm.stouter2238]

A powerful wizard teaches an ancient language to two students

[@kobirelf97]

DUMBLEDORE

[@eilzmo]

@@kobirelf97 I genuinely think that is an insult to both Finkel and Dumbledore you absolute muggle

[@creditsunknown7974]

Tom didn't not say xjopyt to be called a student

[@shi117]

Dumbledore

[@caleb3871]

Wizarddd. . . . . 😂👍

[@conniemations4957]

"if you press it hard, you'll get a splinter and gradually bleed to death." God I love this guy.

[@biblebadcopycatofcuneiform8210]

Enki & Ninharsag agrees I'm sure.

[@erelde_]

Dr Finkel is both what I would expect from a curator of the British museum and not at all what I would expect.

[@hectors03]

look for Objectivity

[@Ybalrid]

I discovered him in the game of Ur video with Tom. I have to say, this man. Well, you understand me. I'm going to search for more stuff with him because he makes history about Mesopotamia really interesting ^^"

[@zoraizmohsin935]

Schrödinger's curator

[@ravenclawapollochild6466]

He is what I aspire to be in my life.

[@Varksterable]

But Keith is *exactly* what a British curator(/head librarian) is supposed to be like, imo. Dr Finkel doesn't have the level of reserve and understatement that Keith has. I think that's OP's point, maybe? BTW; I think both are amazing people. Both engage interest in an amazing and compelling way. And I'm sure there are many more folks like this waiting just off camera to yet be discovered. For all its ills, KZbin brings us this from time to time.

[@rockchapelboy92]

I'd definitely watch a series of Irving teaching you two random obscure historical stuff. His enthusiasm for things is really wonderful to see.

[@RM.-_-.]

I Agree with this 100%!

[@drock1091]

rockchapelboy92 yea that dude is amazing

[@Dadikoe]

rockchapelboy92 +

[@miallo]

Especially if the two random strangers are by chance Matt and Tom (or Ma-At and Ta-Am as I like to call them)

[@CaffeinatedTech]

He's funny, witty, sharp and friendly. I'd enjoy watching more of Irving.

[@ShoelaceWarHawk]

Tom, Kanji is the only Japanese alphabet that isn't a syllabary. Hiragana and Katakana are the two that are

[@mrmimeisfunny]

I thought the same thing, then i remembered Tom is a linguist. Now i am not sure.

[@MatthewNJDavis]

ShoelaceWarHawk Yup, they're grouped together as furigana. Hiragana for Japanese words, and katakana for foreign loan words.

[@science-recon7392]

ShoelaceWarHawk yeah, kanji is the Chinesey one isn't it?

[@MatthewNJDavis]

Kanji is used for words or constructs, and is from the old Chinese characters, and are still similar, with some still identical to each other. I knew studying Japanese would help one day! XD

[@Luisfrp]

Furigana is the name used for the reading aid paired with kanji. Hiragana and katakana are grouped together as "kana"

[@jMcWill781]

Is it possible to adopt a grandfather?

[@TheBananenbeer]

Not from a jedi.

[@Rebecca-fs2rg]

Him and Tim from grand illusions

[@magicicecube8233]

omg the two oldies i watch on youtube Tim adn his wonderful tat from around the world and this adorable curator are so calming to watch

[@MrJonnyPepper]

😆

[@TheJensPeeters]

He looks so old, but he isn't. he is only 67. It is so weird to me. He is barely older than my father

[@zfbananas]

Nice to see a Dr Irving/ Tom reunion after their match of the royal game of ur

[@whitepointstarproductions8905]

Zack Fry After claiming victory he now claims the channel

[@jackmorris303]

Like most things in the British Museum, it shall make a fine addition to his collection.

[@DivineBlueMould]

Jack Morris "So I was looking through the tablet archives, and I found a KZbin channel?" "Oh yeah, Dr Finkel won that in a board game." "Of course he did."

[@MON4CO72]

indeed

[@saperoi]

@@DivineBlueMould I LOVE THIS

[@ulvschmidt7174]

I love when Mat says there should be a second T and dr Finkel rightly scoffs at such rubbish as a superflous T

[@jaizegilbert]

Dr. Finkel is amazing but he does tend to Babylon...

[@TheMuslimdon]

Jaize Gilbert 😂❤️

[@stumbling]

He's certainly not a Summary-an [sic].

[@britishmuseum]

We've never seen this one. Consider it added to the official Finkelexicon

[@dlogue99]

He’s not one to Ur on the side of caution

[@maocharlisme]

[sic]; who the hell even [sic]s themself?!! 'xD

[@hats1642]

It's not the size of the stylus, It's the impressions you make with it.

[@Pakkens_Backyard]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@kinhamid9665]

;)

[@Commandelicious]

After only a few minutes I realise that Matt and Toms curiosity and Dr Finkels knowledge and attitude fit perfectly.

[@yayforfood100]

isn't it weird that matt's name is ma-at and tom's name is ta-am? THE PLOT THICKENS

[@ReubenMason99]

Yes

[@3seven5seven1nine9]

Babylonian fanfiction must've been so spicey

[@aburrage7697]

clever you are

[@PMMagro]

Ilumianti confirmed!

[@Nobody-qw1vi]

the clay hardens

[@alexgreenwood404]

Dr Finkel epitomises the Great British eccentric. He seems like such a wonderful and passionate man.

[@mbalicki]

3:31 😄 Tom: “It's a /sɪˈlæbəɹi/…” Dr Finkel: “It's a /ˈsɪləbɛɹi/.”

[@igorvoloshin3406]

"Она говорит, свеклá говорит, А я говорю: свёкла!" 😉👍

[@mbalicki]

​@@igorvoloshin3406 Я не знав, що російською ви говорите «свёкла». 😃 То дуже цікаве, тому що я поляк а польською «буряк» є «burak» (бурак), але «ćwikła» (цьвікла) означає варені буряки з хроном. 😊

[@igorvoloshin3406]

@@mbalicki Он воно як, цікаво! Ну, українською це буде, звісно ж, "буряк", а "свьокла" то вже суржик 😉

[@onionbot2]

weird flex but ok

[@igorvoloshin3406]

@@mbalicki розповів це моїй старій мамі, а вона сказала, що дід дуже любив цей буряк з хроном, сам його собі готував. А я й не знав! Але воно й не дивно, бо мій дід по матері був поляк, на прізвище Калієвський.

[@iStormUK]

Irving Finkel is epic, he's like exactly how I imagine a professor type boffin of history, and entertaining to listen to on top

[@LilithsOwn303]

Exactly, my mind wondered towards Dumbledore (if only for the beard) :D

[@NilesBlackX]

I will watch every video with Irving Finkel in it, he's like a character from a childhood book came to life

[@oqo3310]

Life is boring anyway, be a children book character if you can.

[@carsonweekly]

I was fully expecting Dr. Irving to urgently leave either by TARDIS or Portkey

[@NovaRoyale]

your both wrong. he is a time traveling god who came down to teach us

[@HappyBeezerStudios]

Nah, he is Noah. He even build the babylonian version of the ark. He is obviously *still* alive!

[@Milamberinx]

He has a system of doors that open to faraway places.

[@ApeX-pj4mq]

@HappyBeezerStudios - by Lord_Mogul He would probably read the tablet that had the Epic of Gilgamesh on it and be honoured someone wrote an Epic about his life

[@adammullarkey4996]

Archaeologists in a few thousand years' time are going to be incredibly confused by these three tablets...

[@SpaghettiToaster]

Adam Mullarkey you can date them

[@adammullarkey4996]

Tell me, do you understand the concept of comedy? I don't believe that you do.

[@baldeagle5297]

SpaghettiToaster You date them, they're not my type.

[@jeanpomelo5884]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@clockworkkirlia7475]

@@baldeagle5297 Of course not; these tablets are clearly Ground type, and eagles are, by nature, Flying type.

[@Zelmel]

Life is simple: I see Irving Finkel in the title, I click like.

[@vel0city96]

Today's show is sponsored by the word Cuneiform.

[@NafenX]

Vel0city That's a nice Cuneiform.

[@derkateramabend]

Vel0city Nice reference :D

[@darerd]

I looked in the comments just to find this. I _knew_ someone would say it!

[@TheNeXXom]

Thank god I'm not the only one who associated the word with Citation Needed!

[@ragnkja]

Ooh, highbrow!

[@Pcposh]

Tom, you need to have Dr. Finkel on your channel more frequently. I'm sure he's a busy man, but he's terribly entertaining and he likely has a wealth of knowledge to share.

[@surgeonsergio6839]

Likely? Of course he's got a tonne of knowledge to share, he's a curator for god's sake!

[@maxscribner1743]

I love Dr. Finkel so much!

[@lily91109]

Dr. Finkel can spank me.

[@mistaecco]

If anyone here isn't subscribed to the British museum's KZbin channel, do it right now! They have a bunch of super interesting series and criminally low viewership.

[@dvictorbrown]

Exactly what I thought!

[@johanneskarlsson6535]

Thanks

[@Thefuzzion115]

Also criminally high amount of stuff they refused to give back to who it was stolen from

[@fuzzytheduck6821]

@@Thefuzzion115 exactly!!! I can’t believe there’s so few people pointing this out

[@elisam.r.9960]

@@Thefuzzion115 I was waiting for this comment.

[@miles4711]

This ought to have been on Tom's main channel to reach a wider audience. Fascinating stuff, I was properly entertained and educated at the same time.

[@z01t4n]

miles4711 I sort of agree but it's much longer than most of the videos on Tom's main channel.

[@miles4711]

z01t4n I've thought about that before posting as well. He's had a couple of longish videos on his main channel from time to time, so I figured, why not. I have a hunch, maybe he couldn't quite fit the topic into the regular look and feel of his videos. So he decided for a Park Bench (glad I subscribed to that one when it began). I wouldn't mind a little plug in one of his regular videos, if he found a way to sneak it in. :-)

[@libbybollinger5901]

I just realised Tom and Matt's names are basically each others name backwards

[@Liggliluff]

Tomatt, Mattom

[@Sarah-np5fx]

@@Liggliluffshipname ToMatto lmao

[@felipevasconcelos6736]

Not quite. “ta-am” backwards is “am-ta”, and “ma-at” backwards is “at-ma”.

[@twilliamspro]

Dr Finkel needs to be on a Technicsl difficulties Citation needed show He'd provably wipe the floor with you

[@mrtopsyt1]

+

[@muhilan8540]

Tom Williams Productions +

[@Falcondances]

+

[@charliespinoza1966]

Tom Williams Productions +++++

[@OwlRTA]

In contrast, Dr. Finkel should be the subject of a Citation Needed episode

[@Empyrean55]

We need more Irving in your videos!

[@KougajiCalling]

Mishak Heyman Everyone needs more Irving in their videos.

[@BlobVanDam]

I love Dr Finkel's enthusiasm, and this was a great video. I think this could have even gone on the main channel, despite being less structured and edited.

[@cdog252]

The only way this could be bettered is if you invited Irving Finkel along to the next Amazon affiliate video with Hannah Witton...

[@ReubenMason99]

+

[@TheBassHeavy]

YES

[@charliespinoza1966]

cdog252 +

[@krashd]

"Today I'll be telling Matt and Tom about carniverous plants from the Pleocene period and Hannah will be talking about vaginas and all that kind of stuff."

[@ilexdiapason]

what a guest

[@PlasmaHH]

So rename the channel to "Mat and Tam" now?

[@Eli_Ghostie]

Yes they should and then give no context behind it

[@Alexander99602]

More like maat and taam

[@ergbudster3333]

Prof Irving is one the world's great nerds.

[@Gleepicus]

That Irving chap is quite the character.

[@snakebarber]

Why are British people so delightful? I could listen to them talk about absolutely anything.

[@amshermansen]

Irving is such a great character. I could listen to him talk about pretty much anything with that enthusiasm.

[@joshuagraham9217]

I think this video deserves a re-upload. A newer audience and more people need to see this and appreciate Irving.

[@qtheplatypus]

Tom displaying his linguistic training.

[@jesusnthedaisychain]

@Iykury: watch?v=M7HJH0IH3dc

[@haeilsey]

Real nice work he must've put in kappa

[@PerMortensen]

He was thinking of kana which are syllabic. That slip up is understandable enough.

[@StuReedy]

Wow! Best park bench ever! Dr. Finkel is brilliant!

[@marpintado]

People like Dr. Irving Finkel are invaluable.

[@maxximumb]

The 'cuneiform' on the jug lug, reminds me of when potters rough up two surfaces of wet clay that are to be joined. Nowadays a potter would hold a sharpened stick, like a pen, and scratch both surfaces up then press the two parts together. If the potter who made that jug we used to writing cuneiform, it wouldn't be a huge stretch to think that they picked up a stylus and made cuneiform strokes to roughen the clay. If the two parts were not joined properly, there could have been an air pocket containing the strokes, left undeformed.

[@ragnkja]

The point is that it doesn't match any of the known cuneiform writing systems. Of course, the potter may have just been writing nonsense.

[@Woddawic]

I watched a few videos of Irving after that ancient Ludo game he and Tom did together. What an amazing personality! Would love to spend an afternoon in the pub with that guy

[@verdatum]

This is one of the coolest persons I have ever seen on KZbin. I'm now going to spend the next few hours watching Finkel videos. We live in fantastic times. I love the Internet.

[@sandwich2473]

That was a really interesting explanation of the strange script, and Irving seems a proper nice bloke. I'll be sure to check out the kickstarter.

[@goneutt]

Funny, I picked up somewhere that Ma'at was an Egyptian goddess of truth and knowledge

[@erilassila409]

I desperately need to know how to write Irving Finkel in cuneiform. It would be so cool if he signed some important official document for the British museum in cuneiform!

[@cybrace]

Dr Irving is so smart and witty that I find him as a future version of Tom. I don't know why but he is truly brilliant and very Tom like.

[@luigigaminglp]

I think that the Park bench is the only "location" someone talks about Snapchat Spectacles AND Cuneiform... xD

[@toothgap_]

ma-at and ta-am, you know you're best friends if your names are cuneiform palindromes

[@Dashij]

I honestly demand to see more of Dr Irving, it's just so mesmerizing to listen to him

[@IudiciumInfernalum]

I absolutely loved this. I wish all my teachers would have been like Dr Irving Finkel back in school. I would have aced every test.

[@aeneum6724]

My Latin teacher used to have a cuneiform tablet he had made in college, but one of the freshman who took his class broke it last school year

[@vividvoidgirl2760]

I start studying History and Linguistics at University today. This video has really pumped me up! I really hope I get to meet Dr Finkel some day.

[@iannordin5250]

It makes me so happy to see Irving taking such joy in other people appreciating his work

[@twilliamspro]

Hi I'm Matt, I'm Tom and Heres Dumbledore

[@sableshepherd2485]

Dr. Finkel is an amazing Gentleman...never fails to blow my mind. Thank you Sir!!!!

[@bob_._.]

It looks like this is really helping out Dr. Finkle's kickstarter - six new pledges in the last 10 minutes or so.

[@kylecow1930]

I love this man

[@Hashishin13]

I love how he has to explain what reliably sunny days feels like, only in Britain.

[@tylnd20]

Dr. Irving Finkel is so cool omg!! Please make more collab videos with him Tom!

[@mxmithril]

This was incredibly fascinating... definitely renewing my old interest/passion for ancient history.

[@ctr1325]

Fascinating. Glad I didn’t interrupt filming that day.

[@ANoBaka]

Please for the love of god, more of Dr Irving Finkel! He's such an interesting person with such interesting stories and information.

[@ThisIsARubbishName]

Ooh! Thanks. Irving is a great person!

[@marionlavey4739]

He looks like the embodiment of history

[@westronic]

This video inspired me to start writing cuneiform, which launched me into working with clay in general. Thank you Matt and Tom!

[@RadagonTheRed]

I am SO happy that Dr Finkel is in this video! I loved watching him in the Royal Ur video.

[@matthewcondon1985]

That was great! LOVE it!

[@BatteryExhausted]

16:14 - "Are you sure this is the right way?" "I'm just following the sat-nav, Doreen."

[@777redhood]

dr irving has impressively good hands for his age

[@freeholdtacticalmed]

Team Irving!!! That man ROCKS!

[@sacredweeds]

So happy to see you both together with Irving! 💕

[@AlbinoFlareon]

To quote Citation Needed: Today's episode is sponsored by the word "Cuneiform"

[@w4tchdoge]

Is it just me or does Dr Finkel look kinda like Charles Darwin?

[@lohphat]

Or The Amazing Randi.

[@stumbling]

That's a bit like saying all men in Santa costumes look alike.

[@SlyPearTree]

Definitively Randi. And I think they learned the art of public speaking from the same or very similar sources.

[@krashd]

All academics eventually let go of grooming altogether, time spent shaving is time that could have been better spent perfecting a teleportation device.

[@malysyforethought1195]

And the user handbook for the teleportation device is in cuneiform...

[@infamoushacker4chan883]

I love the energy coming off him. He was so prepared and excited.

[@st0rmforce]

Absolutely brilliant

[@jMcWill781]

Make. The. T-shirt.

[@PKMartin]

It needs to have cuneiform script for "Dr Finkel is a badass" on the back

[@paulsutherland3813]

ma-at an-ad ta-am-az pa-ak be-en-es

[@alwinpriven2400]

but they have an r. it'll be: 𒈠𒀜 𒀭𒀜 𒋫𒄠𒊍 𒉺𒅈𒀝 𒁁𒂗𒌍 Ma-at an-ad ta-am-az pa-ar-ak be-en-eš

[@quidprobro]

Saruman teaches Matt and Tom how to write in an ancient script

[@AshArAis]

JakeTheHammer Terry Pratchett 2.0

[@sysmatt]

Thanks for bringing us more Irving Finkel!

[@reinl7]

One of the BEST videos on this channel!!

[@acathosh]

Irving is lovely. I'm ready to study Cuneiform just to meet the guy

[@gammamaster1894]

I get the impression this guy writes his shopping list in Sumerian

[@MorseB]

Love this guy, brilliant teacher.

[@FlopFlips]

Fantastic episode!

[@Zelmel]

So how long until we can get that cuneiform chart on a t-shirt? I will actually buy one to wear to work.

[@LilithsOwn303]

You can only buy one, if you can actually read it. :D

[@JasonCoulls]

That was actually far more interesting than I thought it was going to be. I love learning about things that are very far removed from modern life.

[@TardyTardigrade]

Irving is an absolute joy to learn from. He always makes the topics captivating.

[@ThePwnageHobo]

Glad to see another collaboration between Tom and Dr Finkel. It's nice that Matt is there too

[@DasGanon]

Aww. Pity the cuneiform sheet isn't in the description

[@enki9243]

I have his book, so awesome! And I would love to learn Cuneiform. BTW I was looking for Cuneiform from the 31st - 26th Century BC, if anyone has copies please let me know.

[@suttonmattp]

Dr Irving is absolutely wonderful. So great to see him again.

[@occamraiser]

Irving Finkel :) What a wonderful teacher.

[@onjit]

3:33 - kanji is pictoral, not syballic. you were probably thinking of something like hiragana

[@mitthjarta5]

Or westernized katakana, likelihood of where the misrecollection came from considering it also starts with a K.

[@jesusnthedaisychain]

watch?v=M7HJH0IH3dc

[@Mousy677]

will you be writing any washing-bills once you've learned cuneiform?

[@Jorvard]

And maybe make a video about every detail of Caratacus's uniform?

[@Mousy677]

it would be a very short video...

[@mabbzie_]

What a brilliant man! Have backed the Kickstarter for what sounds like a fantastic story, very excited!

[@Katzura]

Irving always brightens my day :D make sure to do a lot with him to share him with the world.

[@CrabQueen]

I thought you photoshopped Zeus into the thumbnail for a second.

[@virg0_lem0nade]

Bacon Lord 😂😂

[@basilofgoodwishes4138]

Bacon Lord you mean EA.

[@purebloodedgriffin]

"It's a syllabary... like kanji" There are three Japanese writing systems, that's the only one that isn't

[@AdzSONLINE]

Fantastic trio

[@SharonLinfromTaiwan]

This is so fascinating! Thank you for sharing it with us. Love Dr. Irving Finkel so much.