an excited archaeologist holds a magnifying glass up to examine intricate carved symbols on the ancient stone wall. The wall displays rows of detailed bird shapes, eye symbols, human figures, and geometric patterns carved deep into the rock. As the archaeologist traces one symbol with her finger, she pulls out a reference book to compare the markings. Her assistant shines a flashlight on different sections of the wall, revealing more complex picture symbols. The carved images tell stories through birds, ankhs, pharaoh figures, and sacred objects instead of regular letters. a system of writing using pictures and symbols, especially that used in ancient Egypt