The mammoth figurine from Vogelherd Cave, approximately 40,000 years old, bears multiple sequences of crosses and dots on its surface. (Universität Tübingen / Hildegard Jensen via SWNS)
The new analysis isby linguist Christian Bentz (photo) at Saarland University and archaeologist Ewa Dutkiewicz at the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum of Prehistory and Early History) in Berlin.
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. (Landesmuseum Württemberg / Hendrik Zwietasch via SWNS)
Archaeologist Ewa Dutkiewicz (photo) at the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum of Prehistory and Early History) in Berlin. (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Juliane Eirich via SWNS)
The mammoth figurine from Vogelherd Cave, approximately 40,000 years old, bears multiple sequences of crosses and dots on its surface. (Universität Tübingen / Hildegard Jensen via SWNS)
By Stephen Beech
Carvings made on tools and sculptures over 40,000 years ago were a "precursor" to written language, suggests new research.
The new analysis isby linguist Christian Bentz (photo) at Saarland University and archaeologist Ewa Dutkiewicz at the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum of Prehistory and Early History) in Berlin.
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. (Landesmuseum Württemberg / Hendrik Zwietasch via SWNS)
Archaeologist Ewa Dutkiewicz (photo) at the Museum für Vor- und Frühgeschichte (Museum of Prehistory and Early History) in Berlin. (Staatliche Museen zu Berlin / Juliane Eirich via SWNS)
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.