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The earliest writing? Sign use in the seventh millennium BC at Jiahu, Henan Province, China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Xueqin Li ,
Garman Harbottle ,
Juzhong Zhang  and
Changsui Wang
Xueqin Li
Affiliation:
Department of Scientific History and Archaeometry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China 230026
Garman Harbottle
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, State University of New York at Stony Brook, NY, 11790 and Chemistry Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973. garman@bnl.gov
Juzhong Zhang
Affiliation:
Department of Scientific History and Archaeometry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China 230026
Changsui Wang
Affiliation:
Department of Scientific History and Archaeometry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China 230026
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Abstract

Early Neolithic graves at Jiahu, Henan Province, China, include tortoise shells which are incised with signs – some of which anticipate later Chinese characters and may be intended as words. Is this the earliest writing? The authors decide rather that the signs in this very early period performed as symbols connected with ritual practice, but they presage a long period of sign use which led eventually to a writing system.

Keywords

Chinaneolithicburialswriting

Information

Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 77 , Issue 295 , March 2003 , pp. 31 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd. 2003

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