Signs on Stone Age objects: Precursor to written language dates back 40,000 years (IMAGE)

Saarland University

Signs on Stone Age objects: Precursor to written language dates back 40,000 years

Caption

The Adorant figurine from Geißenklösterle Cave, approximately 38,000 years old, consists of a small ivory plate bearing an anthropomorphic figure and multiple sequences of notches and dots. The application of these marks suggests a notational system, most notably in the rows of dots on the back of the plate.

Credit

Credit: Landesmuseum Württemberg / Hendrik Zwietasch, CC BY 4.0

Usage Restrictions

Credit must be given to the creator.

License

CC BY

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