What are the oldest writings known to man?

Answer 1

It seems to be a toss up between ancient Hindu scripture or some of the earliest Egyptian writings like the book of the dead.

The Hindu stuff is fascinating. It sounds like the same things that the quantum physics guys are saying. Makes you wonder how the Hindus knew this stuff 4000 years ago.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 2

The Chauvet Cave or Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc Cave, near Vallon-Pont-d'Arc, in the Ardèche département, in southern France has paintings on its walls that have been dated as far back as 32,000 years. This is probably the earliest form of "writing," though it not know whether the paintings represent a story, a religious rite, or were created just for aesthetic value (which seems unlikely).

Around 8000 BC, in Sumer, people began using small tokens made of baked clay with symbols etched into them. Different symbols were used for different denominations (a "+" sign might represent ten sheep, where a "*" might represent a hundred sheep. This was both the first instance of written numbers and the beginnings of the modern banking system. Tokens of varying denominations were strung onto lengths of cord and baked into a clay ball (so that the contents could not altered), which was then sealed with signs representing how much was in the "bank."

Perhaps strangely enough, even the Egyptian system of heiroglyphics (3200 BC) is eclipsed by the Vinca script, which evidences a possible system of writing or identification dating as far back as 6000 BC. Some people dispute that the Vinca script is actually meaningful of anything, but if so, it would make this the oldest system of "true writing" in history. There is enough variety to the known symbols that it could easily represent a proto-language of sorts.

If Vinca does not take the title as the oldest true writing, then the Indrus script probably does. It has been dated as far back as 3500 BC, making it a contender for the oldest true script.

Answer 3

An archaeological discovery in 1979 revealed to be the earliest biblical passage ever found in ancient artifacts. Two tiny strips of silver, each wound tightly like a miniature scroll and bearing the inscribed words, were uncovered in a tomb outside Jerusalem and initially dated from the late seventh or early sixth century B.C. - some 400 years before the famous Dead Sea Scrolls.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/28/scienc...

As far as the oldest book of the Bible. Job -1500 B.C.

Source(s):
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/28/scienc...

Answer 4

Depends what you mean by writings - cave paintings would be oldest - which ones I'm not sure but if you mean language based writings then egyptian/greek would be a favourite - possibly some ancient arabic texts??

Answer 5

If you mean the oldest religious writing, generally hinduism's exts are considered the oldest for a functioning religion. There are some older writings but they were for "extinct" religions.

Answer 6

Oooh, good question. I'm going with the Egyptian writings about the Scorpion King? But I have a bad feeling about this C3PO. Let me research.

Bah! Damm you Bulgaria!!!
It's Bulgaria and it's 7,000 years old.
http://www.archaeologyfieldwork.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1154902722

Answer 7

the epic maha bharata written by Veda vyasa.though the three Vedas were known to man before the epic maha bharata was written, the Vedas were not in written they were by hearted by people. it is called SRITI.

Answer 8

Aztec pyramid

Answer 9

I wouldn't mind seeing Mav's cave drawings.

Answer 10

Mav has drawing in her cave that were there long before even the Chinese got it together!