The discovery of ancient symbols engraved on artefacts found in Germany has shed light on the early forms of writing used by Stone Age people 40,000 years ago. These symbols, found on objects such as pendants, tools, and figurines, bear sequences of graphic symbols like lines, crosses, and dots. The meaning of these symbols has long been a subject of debate among archaeologists and linguists.
Researchers Ewa Dutkiewicz and Christian Bentz analyzed these symbols found on artefacts dating back to the Aurignacian era, between 43,000 and 34,000 years ago. They found that these sequences of symbols showed a level of complexity and information density comparable to the earliest form of proto-writing known as proto-cuneiform, which emerged in Mesopotamia around 3500 to 3350 BC.
The analysis revealed that the Stone Age symbols were used in a systematic and deliberate manner, suggesting a form of communication through visible marks. While the exact meanings of these symbols remain unknown, there are indications that some of them might have served as a type of calendar. For example, a mammoth ivory plaquette adorned with dots and notches in rows of 13 or 12 could be interpreted as “calendric observations” used to track time.
Further examination of the symbols showed patterns in their usage on different types of objects. For instance, crosses were commonly found on objects depicting animals like horses and mammoths, while dots were absent on tools. These patterns remained consistent over a 10,000-year period, indicating that the conventions of symbol usage were passed down through generations.
The study suggests that the Stone Age symbols were used for specific reasons and held meaning for the people who created them. This discovery adds to the growing body of evidence that suggests the roots of writing systems may date back much further than previously thought. While the first full writing system, cuneiform, emerged around 3200 BC, these findings hint at a much earlier development of proto-writing systems dating back 40,000 years ago.
