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Expert: Tablet may have oldest writings
AP on Yahoo ^ | 8/4/06 | AP

Posted on 08/04/2006 9:28:38 PM PDT by NormsRevenge

SOFIA, Bulgaria - An almost 7,000-year old stone tablet found in Bulgaria bears carvings that might turn out to be one of the world's oldest inscriptions, a prominent Bulgarian archaeologist said Thursday.

"These signs are unique and apparently bear a meaning," Nikolai Ovcharov told a press conference. Ovcharov said he had received the tablet from a private collector who had unearthed it 20 years ago.

The collector asked to remain anonymous, because he risked criminal prosecution for looting or criminal possession of antiquities. The tablet, about three inches, carries five distinct signs each made up of two elements, Ovcharov said. "This could be the prototype of a script," he added.

Two similar tablets also dating back to the 5th millenium B.C. have also been found in Bulgaria many years ago. It could be argued that their carvings, although rather schematic, are part of the same proto-script, Ovcharov said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bulgaria; expert; godsgravesglyphs; oldest; tablet; writings
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Bulgarian archaeologist Nikolai Ovcharov shows an almost 7,000-year old stone tablet found in Bulgaria bears carvings that might turn out to be one of the world's oldest inscriptions, during a news conference in Bulgarian capital Sofia, Thursday, Aug. 03, 2006. The tablet, some 7-centimeter long and 8-centimeter wide (about 3 inches), carries five distinct signs each made up of two elements, Ovcharov said. (AP Photo)


1 posted on 08/04/2006 9:28:39 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
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To: SunkenCiv

filing


2 posted on 08/04/2006 9:30:17 PM PDT by stainlessbanner
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To: stainlessbanner

http://www.myspace.com/gilbert200
I'm going to have to ask Gilbert to confirm this.


3 posted on 08/04/2006 9:40:07 PM PDT by CommieCutter
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To: NormsRevenge

I'm not really what most people would call an expert, but that looks like a phone number.


4 posted on 08/04/2006 9:42:37 PM PDT by ansel12 (Life is exquisite... of great beauty, keenly felt.)
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To: NormsRevenge
one of the world's oldest inscriptions

And it's in Larry King's handwriting.

5 posted on 08/04/2006 9:43:00 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2006_04.htm)
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To: Darkwolf377

It looks more like notes taken by Helen Thomas.


6 posted on 08/04/2006 9:45:09 PM PDT by mkmensinger
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To: stainlessbanner; blam; FairOpinion; StayAt HomeMother; Ernest_at_the_Beach; 24Karet; 3AngelaD; ...
Thanks stainlessbanner.

I'd like to know a bit more about the dating method used; also, these don't appear to be anything but space-filling patterns rather than script characters.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on or off the
"Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list or GGG weekly digest
-- Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)

7 posted on 08/04/2006 9:45:16 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Thursday, July 27, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: NormsRevenge

Looks like my doodling....


8 posted on 08/04/2006 9:45:36 PM PDT by goodnesswins ( The Dems are so far to the left they have left America.)
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To: SunkenCiv

First thought--"decorative."


9 posted on 08/04/2006 9:46:46 PM PDT by Mamzelle (in vino, veritas)
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To: NormsRevenge
It looks Babylonian.

APf
10 posted on 08/04/2006 9:50:41 PM PDT by APFel (Individualism. The alpha and the omega.)
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To: NormsRevenge

First Democrat talking points.


11 posted on 08/04/2006 9:53:13 PM PDT by Taxbilly
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To: ansel12

....867-5309


12 posted on 08/04/2006 9:53:22 PM PDT by NorCalRepub
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To: SunkenCiv
I'd like to know a bit more about the dating method used

Eharmony?

13 posted on 08/04/2006 9:53:35 PM PDT by ValerieUSA
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To: ansel12
I'm not really what most people would call an expert, but that looks like a phone number.

Yeah, and the first few words read: "For a good time call..." but I can't make out the area code.

14 posted on 08/04/2006 9:54:10 PM PDT by Bernard Marx (Fools and fanatics are always certain of themselves, but the wise are full of doubts.)
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related topics:

Macro-Etymology: Paleosigns [writing 20,000 years ago?]
Macro-Etymology Website | prior to May 20, 2005 | the webmasters thereof
Posted on 05/20/2005 2:00:18 AM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1406892/posts

Were Cavemen Painting For Their Gods?
The Telegraph (UK) | 2-23-2005
Posted on 03/06/2005 3:20:58 PM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1357365/posts

Expert Says Iraq Could Rewrite Archaeology Books
Reuters/Yahoo | 3-4-2004 | Luke Baker
Posted on 03/05/2004 2:51:50 PM PST by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1091680/posts


15 posted on 08/04/2006 9:54:14 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Thursday, July 27, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: Mamzelle

Yup.


16 posted on 08/04/2006 9:55:38 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Thursday, July 27, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: mkmensinger

No, Helen couldn't write until...uh, well, I'm sure she will, someday, if she keeps trying.


17 posted on 08/04/2006 9:55:43 PM PDT by Darkwolf377 (http://www.dansimmons.com/news/message/2006_04.htm)
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To: ValerieUSA

No wonder you're never around here. ;')


18 posted on 08/04/2006 9:55:56 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (updated my FR profile on Thursday, July 27, 2006. https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: NormsRevenge

Perhaps an inventory listing of sheep and goats.


19 posted on 08/04/2006 9:56:54 PM PDT by Ciexyz (Leaning on the everlasting arms.)
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To: Ciexyz

Sounds plausible. But in the end, it could be anything.


20 posted on 08/04/2006 10:01:14 PM PDT by dr_who_2
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