Eblaite language

Eblaite is an extinct East Semitic language which was spoken in the 3rd millenium BC in the ancient city Ebla, now in modern Syria. It is considered to be the oldest written Semitic language.

The language, closely related to Akkadian is known from about 17.000 tablets written with cuneiform script which were found between 1974-1976 in the ruins of the Ebla city. The tablets were first interpreted by Giovanni Pettinato.