Final answer:
Not all ancient civilizations utilized a written script, with the Indus Valley Civilization being a notable exception that relied on symbols that remain undeciphered. Civilizations such as the Sumerians and Egyptians used cuneiform and hieroglyphics respectively, whereas other cultures emphasized oral traditions and epic poetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Not all ancient civilizations had a written script. One notable exception is the Indus Valley Civilization, which has left behind a large number of symbols that have not yet been deciphered. As a result, we have to rely significantly on archaeological evidence and their impressive urban planning, artifacts, and pottery to infer details about their culture, economy, and social structure. Cuneiform was one of the earliest forms of writing, developed by the Sumerians in Mesopotamia. This writing system started as pictographs and evolved into phonetic symbols, used on clay tablets for a variety of records and literature. The Egyptian civilization used hieroglyphics, a complex system that required extensive training for scribes to master. Meanwhile, systems such as epic poetry and oral traditions were prominent in cultures that did not develop writing at the same pace, including early Arab societies, as well as in the historical transmission of early Judaism and Greek epics.