Unknown Writing System Uncovered On Ancient Olmec Tablet

Science magazine this week details the discovery of a stone block in Veracruz, Mexico, that contains a previously unknown system of writing; believed by archeologists to be the earliest in the Americas.

The slab – named the Cascajal block – dates to the early first millennium BCE and has features that indicate it comes from the Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica. One of the archaeologists behind the discovery, Brown University’s Stephen D. Houston, said that the block and its ancient script “link the Olmec civilization to literacy, document an unsuspected writing system, and reveal a new complexity to this civilization.”

“It’s a tantalizing discovery. I think it could be the beginning of a new era of focus on Olmec civilization,” explained Houston. “It’s telling us that these records probably exist and that many remain to be found. If we can decode their content, these earliest voices of Mesoamerican civilization will speak to us today.”

Construction workers discovered the Cascajal block in a pile of debris in the community of Lomas de Tacamichapa in the late 1990s.

Surrounding the piece were ceramic shards, clay figurine fragments, and broken artifacts of ground stone, which have helped the team date the block and its text to the San Lorenzo phase, ending about 900 BCE; approximately 400 years before writing was thought to have first appeared in the Western hemisphere.

The block weighs about 26 pounds and measures 36 cm x 21 cm x 13 cm. The text itself consists of 62 signs, some of which are repeated up to four times. There is no doubt that the piece is a written work, say the archaeologists. “As products of a writing system, the sequences would, by definition, reflect patterns of language, with the probable presence of syntax and language-dependent word order,” they explain.

Interestingly, the surface containing the text appears to be concave and the team believes the block has been carved repeatedly and erased – an unprecedented discovery according to Houston, who added that several paired sequences of signs could even indicate poetic couplets.

Source: Brown University
Pics courtesy Science

, ,

Comments are closed.

Medieval Genuine Natural Parchment Writing Vellum Set of 3 picture

Medieval Genuine Natural Parchment Writing Vellum Set of 3

$25.00



The Heart Sutra script Chinese brush calligraphy copybook writing repeat cloth picture

The Heart Sutra script Chinese brush calligraphy copybook writing repeat cloth

$24.23



writing pads Collectibles pen Holder cow Leather note case bag Personalized H024 picture

writing pads Collectibles pen Holder cow Leather note case bag Personalized H024

$12.90



1917 Christmas Little Girl Writing Letter For Santa Claus Gibson Posted Postcard picture

1917 Christmas Little Girl Writing Letter For Santa Claus Gibson Posted Postcard

$14.95



NEW Black Gel Pen Full Matte Water 0.5 Pens Writing Stationery Supply Office picture

NEW Black Gel Pen Full Matte Water 0.5 Pens Writing Stationery Supply Office

$0.99



1881 Oswayo, Pennsylvania Handwritten Letter Between Friends - Beautiful Writing picture

1881 Oswayo, Pennsylvania Handwritten Letter Between Friends - Beautiful Writing

$22.16



1xSignature Business Ballpoint Pen Smooth Writing Office School picture

1xSignature Business Ballpoint Pen Smooth Writing Office School

$6.71



1pcs Signature Business Ballpoint Pen Smooth Writing Office School Students Pen picture

1pcs Signature Business Ballpoint Pen Smooth Writing Office School Students Pen

$1.00



c1924 New York City NY Postcard Dancing Carnival Louis XVI Lounge Writing Room picture

c1924 New York City NY Postcard Dancing Carnival Louis XVI Lounge Writing Room

$14.95



Vintage Cross Ladies Ball Pen Classic Black No. 2542 Writing Pen 1982 USA  picture

Vintage Cross Ladies Ball Pen Classic Black No. 2542 Writing Pen 1982 USA

$30.00



Powered by WordPress. Designed by WooThemes