Stone Age Symbols: Reassessing the Origins of Writing

Recent research on enigmatic symbols engraved on artifacts from Germany indicates that Stone Age humans, around 40,000 years ago, utilized a rudimentary form of writing. This discovery could potentially delay the timeline for the emergence of primitive writing systems by over 30,000 years, paralleling early cuneiform scripts.

Early Homo sapiens, particularly after migrating to Europe about 45,000 years ago, began to make intentional marks on various objects. These included pendants, tools, and intricately carved figurines adorned with graphic symbols—ranging from lines and crosses to dots. These groups also illustrated symbols on cave walls alongside animal representations, and their meanings remain a subject of scholarly debate.

“The systematic arrangement and repeated use of distinct symbols mark a notable advancement,” explains archaeologist Eva Dutkiewicz from the Museum of Prehistory and Early History in Berlin, Germany.

The overarching question concerns the meanings behind these ancient symbols. Without a ‘Rosetta Stone’ equivalent, deciphering their significance is complex; however, studying their application offers valuable insights.

To delve deeper, Dutkiewicz and linguist Christian Benz from Saarland University analyzed markings on artifacts unearthed in the Swabian Jura region, dating between 43,000 and 34,000 years ago, during the Aurignacian period. They examined 260 artifacts, including flutes and animal-human hybrid figurines, which featured 22 different symbols over 3,000 times, primarily employing a V-shaped notch, lines, crosses, and dots.

The researchers employed computer models to assess the complexity and density of information encoded in these sequences. By comparing these patterns to modern scripts and Protocuneiform—Mesopotamia’s oldest known writing dating from 3500 to 3350 BC—they aimed to identify parallels between Stone Age markings and later systems of communication.

“Information can be encoded through the variety and combination of symbols,” says Benz, noting that even the 26 letters of the English alphabet can generate extensive meanings through different arrangements.

The analysis indicated a clear distinction between Aurignac symbols and contemporary letters. Surprisingly, the statistical properties of these 40,000-year-old symbols closely resemble those found in early proto-cuneiform tablets. “Their characteristics show notable similarity,” Benz remarks.

This discovery suggests that early Homo sapiens in Europe may have developed a symbolic recording system, aligned with one definition of writing: a visual communication method using established markings.

“The study indicates that the markings from the Aurignac period mirror a compositional style akin to proto-cuneiform,” states paleoanthropologist Geneviève von Petzinger. “They exhibit repetition and organization.” Yet, this does not imply that both systems shared identical meanings.

While cuneiform originated primarily for accounting purposes—such as recording crop amounts—the question arises about the meaning of “writing” in the Stone Age. Some markings on Aurignac artifacts hint at potential calendrical functions. For instance, an ivory plaque featuring a lion-human figure called Adorant showcases sequences of dots that may represent “calendar observations,” Dutkiewicz suggests, noting their likely interest in tracking time.

Dutkiewicz and Benz further analyzed object symbol usage, revealing intriguing patterns. Despite the cross being common, it was never used on human depictions but frequently found on animal and tool carvings, especially relating to horses and mammoths. Conversely, dots were absent from tool representations.

“While we cannot definitively interpret the meanings, a consistent pattern suggests deliberate choices in symbol application,” Dutkiewicz notes. Additionally, the consistency in these markings over millennia points to a tradition that was likely transmitted across generations.

“These markings were intentionally placed and had significance for the creators,” observes von Petzinger. “Their exact meanings, however, remain elusive.”

This research builds upon a 2023 study suggesting that sequences of dots and lines accompanying cave paintings, allegedly encoding predator behaviors, hint at early systems of recordkeeping.

Overall, while cuneiform emerged around 3200 BC as the first comprehensive writing system, its roots could trace back as far as 40,000 years.