What is the oldest writing system?

Question

Besides pictographs, what is the oldest writing sytem? Is it Babylonian? Mayan? Incan? Can you provide a link to a website please? Thanks!

Answer 1

Right now, there is arm-wrestling going on between whether Egyptian is an older writing system or Sumerian. Chinese propaganda keeps claiming that scratches on tortoise shells are writing, but linguists aren't buying it. There's too big a gap between the scratches and the first true Chinese writing (about a 3000-year gap, to be exact). Both Egyptian and Sumerian are roughly 5500 years old. The fact that both are about the same age just shows that they were developed independently. It used to be in favor to say that Egyptians borrowed the concept of writing from the Sumerians. That appears to be a false assumption now.

Here is the best on-line source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_writing

EDIT: The Incas never had a writing system. Mayan is from older systems in Mesoamerica, specifically Olmec and Zapotec, about 2500-3000 years ago. The oldest Chinese writing is about 3500 years old (only Chinese nationalists accept the recent older dates for geometric symbols scratched in tortoise shell, which, at the very best, should be considered proto-writing and not true writing).

Answer 2

The earliest known writing was etched onto jars before and after firing. Experts believe they may have indicated the contents of the jar or be signs associated with a deity.

According to Dr Richard Meadow of Harvard University, the director of the Harappa Archaeological Research Project, these primitive inscriptions found on pottery may pre-date all other known writing.

Last year it was suggested that the oldest writing might have come from Egypt.

Clay tablets containing primitive words were uncovered in southern Egypt at the tomb of a king named Scorpion.

They were carbon-dated to 3300-3200 BC. This is about the same time, or slightly earlier, to the primitive writing developed by the Sumerians of the Mesopotamian civilisation around 3100 BC.

Answer 3

Earliest Writing System

Answer 4

It's the cuneiform writing invented by the Sumerians in southern Iraq around 3500 B.C.

Answer 5

I doubt we will ever know what is the oldest writing system

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What is the oldest writing system?
Besides pictographs, what is the oldest writing sytem? Is it Babylonian? Mayan? Incan? Can you provide a link to a website please? Thanks!

Answer 7

I was always told it was cuneiform. Clay tablet with symbols etched with a small tool, in the middle east.


http://history.missouristate.edu/jchuchiak/HST%20101-Lecture%202cuneiform_writing.htm

Answer 8

Jiahu Script, symbols on tortoise shells in Jiahu (China), ca. 6600 BC.

Answer 9

Hieroglyphics...?