Was the earliest portable object of recording a slab of rock?

Question

Like in the Flintstones.

Answer 1

I know that the earliest recordings of writing were found on cave walls, circa 25,000 - 30,000 years BP, but as far as portable objects on which to record communication ... I would say that you are partially correct in saying a "slab of rock."

Nine thousand years ago in the neolithic fertile crescent, we find counting tokens, small pieces of rock on which were inscribed symbols to convey messages -- these were quite portable and widely used.

Then, around 4100 BCE, these small pieces of rock started to become the "slabs of rock" we see depicted, with more and more symbols.

Hope this helps! Good luck! :)

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earliest_writing

Proto writing (ideographic symbols) have been discovered dating from the Neolithic period to the 7th millennium. Though some believe them just drawing, some do believe them to be an early form of written communication. Recently they have discovered Ideographic markings on tortoise shells in China dating back to the 7th millennium.

There also are the "Tartaria tablets" discovered dating back to the 5th millennium (5000 years BCE) these are some of the earliest written forms discovered.