<P> Sumerian myths suggest a prohibition against premarital sex . Marriages were often arranged by the parents of the bride and groom; engagements were usually completed through the approval of contracts recorded on clay tablets . These marriages became legal as soon as the groom delivered a bridal gift to his bride's father . Nonetheless, evidence suggests that premarital sex was a common, but surreptitious, occurrence . </P> <P> In the early Sumerian period, the primitive pictograms suggest that </P> <Ul> <Li> "Pottery was very plentiful, and the forms of the vases, bowls and dishes were manifold; there were special jars for honey, butter, oil and wine, which was probably made from dates . Some of the vases had pointed feet, and stood on stands with crossed legs; others were flat - bottomed, and were set on square or rectangular frames of wood . The oil - jars, and probably others also, were sealed with clay, precisely as in early Egypt . Vases and dishes of stone were made in imitation of those of clay ." </Li> <Li> "A feathered head - dress was worn . Beds, stools and chairs were used, with carved legs resembling those of an ox . There were fire - places and fire - altars ." </Li> <Li> "Knives, drills, wedges and an instrument that looks like a saw were all known . While spears, bows, arrows, and daggers (but not swords) were employed in war ." </Li> <Li> "Tablets were used for writing purposes . Daggers with metal blades and wooden handles were worn, and copper was hammered into plates, while necklaces or collars were made of gold ." </Li> <Li> "Time was reckoned in lunar months ." </Li> </Ul> <Li> "Pottery was very plentiful, and the forms of the vases, bowls and dishes were manifold; there were special jars for honey, butter, oil and wine, which was probably made from dates . Some of the vases had pointed feet, and stood on stands with crossed legs; others were flat - bottomed, and were set on square or rectangular frames of wood . The oil - jars, and probably others also, were sealed with clay, precisely as in early Egypt . Vases and dishes of stone were made in imitation of those of clay ." </Li>

The sumerians wrote with which of the following