How were dots used in Etruscan writing beginning around the 6th century BCE?

Beginning around the 6th century BCE, the Etruscan language introduced a system of points, or dots, to improve the clarity of its writing. These marks, which consisted of two, three, or four dots inscribed vertically, served several functional purposes:

• Word Boundaries: They were primarily used to mark the divisions between individual words.
• Syllabic Indication: In some instances, the dots were apparently used to indicate syllables.
• Abbreviations: The system was also utilized to denote potential abbreviations within the text.

Before the introduction of this system, Etruscan writing typically proceeded from right to left without any form of punctuation or word division.1