Egyptian writing more ancient than thought
| From: | alypius <krazyal@...> |
|---|
| Date: | Monday, July 19, 1999, 22:38 |
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SIGHTINGS
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First Evidence Of Writing=20
5300 Years Old Found In Egypt
12-16-98
=20
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CAIRO, Egypt (AP) - Clay tablets uncovered in southern Egypt from =
the tomb of a king named Scorpion may represent the earliest known =
writing by humankind, an archaeologist said Tuesday.=20
=20
If confirmed, the discovery would rank among the =
greatest ever in the search for the origins of the written word.=20
=20
But the subject they mostly deal with may be of no =
surprise at all. It's taxes.=20
=20
Gunter Dreyer, head of the German Archaeological =
Institute, said the tablets record linen and oil deliveries made about =
5,300 years ago as tithe to King Scorpion I.=20
=20
These two clay tablets were unearthed in the tomb of =
King Scorpion I in a cemetery 300 miles south of Cairo. According to =
scholars the writings on the left tablet depict Mountains of Darkness, =
or west, and the right tablet depicts Mountains of Light, or east, in =
reference to where the sun sets or rises. The discovery throws open for =
debate a widely held belief among historians that the first people to =
write were the Sumerians of the Mesopotamian civilization sometime =
before 3,000 B.C., or 5,000 years ago (AP).=20
=20
He said the tablets have been carbon-dated with =
certainty to between 3300 B.C. and 3200 B.C.=20
=20
The discovery throws open for debate a widely held =
belief among historians that the first people to write were the =
Sumerians of the Mesopotamian civilization sometime before 3000 B.C. The =
exact date of Sumerian writing remains in doubt.=20
=20
The Egyptian writings - in the form of line drawings =
of animals, plants and mountains - are the first evidence that =
hieroglyphics used by later-day Pharaonic dynasties did not ''rise as =
Phoenix from the ashes'' but developed gradually, Dreyer said.=20
=20
''Linguists now have a larger history (of writing) =
to regard,'' he said.=20
=20
One American archaeologist called the tablets an =
''exciting'' find.=20
=20
''This would be one of the greatest discoveries in =
the history of writing and ancient Egyptian culture,'' Kent Weeks, =
professor of Egyptology at the American University in Cairo, told The =
Associated Press.=20
=20
But John Baines, a professor of Egyptology at Oxford =
University, was more cautious.=20
=20
''Undoubtedly, (Dreyer's) findings are very =
important, but I have an open mind on this and would like to see'' more =
evidence on the comparative ages of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian =
samples, Baines said in a telephone interview.=20
=20
At this point, ''I would say it is likely that =
writing was invented in both places,'' he said.=20
=20
The bulk of Dreyer's discovery was from Scorpion's =
tomb in a cemetery in the Suhag province, 300 miles south of Cairo.=20
=20
Like many kings in pre-Pharaonic times, Scorpion =
took the name of an animal. Records have been found of chieftains named =
Mouse, Falcon, Double Falcon and Elephant before the first Pharaonic =
dynasty began in 2920 B.C. The Great Pyramid was not built until nearly =
400 years later.=20
=20
Since 1985, Dreyer and his team have unearthed about =
300 pieces of written material on clay tablets barely bigger than =
postage stamps and clay jars and vases with ink impressions.=20
=20
Dreyer said the writings were not a creative =
outpouring, but the result economic necessity: When chieftains expanded =
their areas of control they needed to keep a record of taxes, which were =
paid in commodities.=20
=20
Two-thirds of the tablets have been deciphered as =
accounts of linen and oil delivered to King Scorpion in taxes, short =
notes, numbers, lists of kings' names and names of institutions.=20
=20
Although the records are made up of symbols, they =
are considered true writing because each symbol stands for a consonant =
and makes up syllables.=20
=20
For example, the city named Ba-set was written by =
putting together a throne, known as Ba, and a stork, set. Similarly, Ju =
Gereh - Mountain of Darkness, a reference to its location in the west =
where the sun set - was designated with those symbols.=20
=20
Fish, the word for delivery, appears on many tablets =
against the names of settlements.=20
=20
Apart from the academic question of who came first, =
Dreyer said, the writings prove that the early Egyptian society was far =
more developed than previously thought.=20
=20
''In principle, they were able to express themselves =
clearly,'' he said. =20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
=20
SIGHTINGS HOMEPAGE
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<B><FONT color=3D#970000 size=3D+4>SIGHTINGS</FONT></B>
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<CENTER><B><FONT color=3D#4c0c00 size=3D+4>First Evidence Of Writing =
<BR>5300=20
Years Old Found In Egypt</FONT></B><FONT color=3D#4c0c00=20
size=3D+1></FONT></CENTER>
<DT>
<CENTER><FONT color=3D#4c0c00 size=3D+1>12-16-98<BR></FONT></CENTER>
<DT>
<CENTER> </CENTER>
<DT>
<CENTER>
<TABLE border=3D0 cellPadding=3D0 cellSpacing=3D0 height=3D272 =
width=3D499>
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<TD vAlign=3Dtop width=3D100%>
<DL>
<DT><B><FONT color=3D#350000 =
size=3D+1>CAIRO,</FONT></B><FONT=20
color=3D#350000 size=3D+1> Egypt (AP) - Clay tablets =
uncovered=20
in southern Egypt from the tomb of a king named =
Scorpion may=20
represent the earliest known writing by humankind, =
an=20
archaeologist said Tuesday.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>If confirmed, =
the discovery=20
would rank among the greatest ever in the search for =
the=20
origins of the written word.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>But the subject =
they mostly=20
deal with may be of no surprise at all. It's =
taxes.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Gunter Dreyer, =
head of the=20
German Archaeological Institute, said the tablets =
record=20
linen and oil deliveries made about 5,300 years ago =
as tithe=20
to King Scorpion I.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>These two clay =
tablets were=20
unearthed in the tomb of King Scorpion I in a =
cemetery 300=20
miles south of Cairo. According to scholars the =
writings on=20
the left tablet depict Mountains of Darkness, or =
west, and=20
the right tablet depicts Mountains of Light, or =
east, in=20
reference to where the sun sets or rises. The =
discovery=20
throws open for debate a widely held belief among =
historians=20
that the first people to write were the Sumerians of =
the=20
Mesopotamian civilization sometime before 3,000 =
B.C., or=20
5,000 years ago (AP).</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>He said the =
tablets have=20
been carbon-dated with certainty to between 3300 =
B.C. and=20
3200 B.C.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>The discovery =
throws open=20
for debate a widely held belief among historians =
that the=20
first people to write were the Sumerians of the =
Mesopotamian=20
civilization sometime before 3000 B.C. The exact =
date of=20
Sumerian writing remains in doubt.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>The Egyptian =
writings - in=20
the form of line drawings of animals, plants and =
mountains -=20
are the first evidence that hieroglyphics used by =
later-day=20
Pharaonic dynasties did not ''rise as Phoenix from =
the=20
ashes'' but developed gradually, Dreyer said.</FONT> =
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>''Linguists now =
have a=20
larger history (of writing) to regard,'' he =
said.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>One American =
archaeologist=20
called the tablets an ''exciting'' find.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>''This would be =
one of the=20
greatest discoveries in the history of writing and =
ancient=20
Egyptian culture,'' Kent Weeks, professor of =
Egyptology at=20
the American University in Cairo, told The =
Associated=20
Press.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>But John Baines, =
a professor=20
of Egyptology at Oxford University, was more=20
cautious.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>''Undoubtedly, =
(Dreyer's)=20
findings are very important, but I have an open mind =
on this=20
and would like to see'' more evidence on the =
comparative=20
ages of the Egyptian and Mesopotamian samples, =
Baines said=20
in a telephone interview.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>At this point, =
''I would say=20
it is likely that writing was invented in both =
places,'' he=20
said.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>The bulk of =
Dreyer's=20
discovery was from Scorpion's tomb in a cemetery in =
the=20
Suhag province, 300 miles south of Cairo.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Like many kings =
in=20
pre-Pharaonic times, Scorpion took the name of an =
animal.=20
Records have been found of chieftains named Mouse, =
Falcon,=20
Double Falcon and Elephant before the first =
Pharaonic=20
dynasty began in 2920 B.C. The Great Pyramid was not =
built=20
until nearly 400 years later.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Since 1985, =
Dreyer and his=20
team have unearthed about 300 pieces of written =
material on=20
clay tablets barely bigger than postage stamps and =
clay jars=20
and vases with ink impressions.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Dreyer said the =
writings=20
were not a creative outpouring, but the result =
economic=20
necessity: When chieftains expanded their areas of =
control=20
they needed to keep a record of taxes, which were =
paid in=20
commodities.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Two-thirds of =
the tablets=20
have been deciphered as accounts of linen and oil =
delivered=20
to King Scorpion in taxes, short notes, numbers, =
lists of=20
kings' names and names of institutions.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Although the =
records are=20
made up of symbols, they are considered true writing =
because=20
each symbol stands for a consonant and makes up=20
syllables.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>For example, the =
city named=20
Ba-set was written by putting together a throne, =
known as=20
Ba, and a stork, set. Similarly, Ju Gereh - Mountain =
of=20
Darkness, a reference to its location in the west =
where the=20
sun set - was designated with those symbols.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Fish, the word =
for delivery,=20
appears on many tablets against the names of=20
settlements.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>Apart from the =
academic=20
question of who came first, Dreyer said, the =
writings prove=20
that the early Egyptian society was far more =
developed than=20
previously thought.</FONT>=20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1></FONT> =20
<DT><FONT color=3D#350000 size=3D+1>''In principle, =
they were=20
able to express themselves clearly,'' he =
said.</FONT>=20
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