There is much evidence in the Middle East of writing being done on metal plates. The ancient Arabian peoples also often wrote on hard surfaces, such as stone or metal, so that their writings might be preserved. Nephi probably chose to write on gold plates because of his exposure to the brass plates, but perhaps also due to his experience in passing through southern Arabia. In addition, many of the characters on the Anthon transcript—a one-page document copied from the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated—are similar to those of the Old North Arabian dialect. This dialect was used in northwest Arabia, the area where Lehi’s family set up their first camp (see Echoes, 86–88).