Posted on 12/01/2012 6:42:09 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Prof Xing Gao of the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology in Beijing, co-author of the paper, said: Shuidonggou site includes 12 localities, ranging in date from Early Late to Late Paleolithic. The engraved stone artifact was found at Locality 1, which is about 30,000 years old.
Dr Peng added: we used a digital microscope to observe all the incisions, obtaining many 3D images. After excluding the possibility of natural cracking, trampling and animal-induced damage, and unintentional human by-products, we believe that the incisions were made by intentional behavior. Although we cannot be sure of the function of these incisions, the straight shape of each line shows that it was incised once over a short time interval without repeated cutting, implying the possibility of counting or recording at that time.
Furthermore, creation of such an engraved object may indicate the possible existence of complex communicative systems such as language, he said.
In addition to the engraved stone artifact, one ostrich egg bead was unearthed from Locality 1. The lithic assemblage of this locality includes blade production and elongated tool blanks. The blade technology was probably introduced from the Altai region of Russian Siberia, according to comparison between lithic assemblages. The flake technology is typical of the Late Paleolithic in north China.
(Excerpt) Read more at sci-news.com ...
Rune alphabets are relatively recent ~ this rock carving is many times older than the oldest rune.
Did the pre-Viking Arctic Red Earth People use the Runic Language?
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Thanks for the quick turn around on providing an excellent reference sheet on Runes!
The markings should not be understood as part of an alphabet ~ rather, they are just markings ~ and that's the important part ~ they aren't accidental as far as anyone can tell.
Yeah, I used to date one and I took my lumps. Seriously, what's to say the carved stone relates to other artifacts at the site? Unless there were associations that can definitely place it at 30K it's entirely possible it was left there much later than postulated. Sites that yielded knappable quartz minerals were popular with tool and point-makers during the entire stone age and drew many different visitors over long time periods.
Awesome!
Isn’t Cuneiform around 5000 years old?
More like ogham markings, but the excavator looks like he’s onto something with the idea that someone was keeping track of something (days, rains, something). OTOH, Ciexyz may be onto something, despite the lack of metal at that time.
No, not really, hold the lighter bfore you step to the stake. I used to know the age of the earth to the year (something around 6,245, with an October birthday), but I forgot and am unable to locate the scientific sources, so if you have them, please show us the links.
Im still trying to figure out how they dated the rock...
Don’t they have age rings?
” - - - this artifact is made of siliceous limestone - - - “
This lithology will be softer than a marker that is pure chert (flint), or a marker that is pure quartz. All of these potential markers are commonly found associated with silicious limestone.
The relatively uniform width of the markings is consistent with a marking tool that does not wear significantly from start to finish of a marking, or marking to marking. Thus, the marking tool has a hardness greater than a limestone with up to 99.999 % Silica.
The small size of the marked stone could have been easily carried in the hand of the individual.
Uses, without more information on the wear patterns of the rock, are best treated as speculations.
BTW, why did it take 32 years for the Chinese to get around to publishing this paper?
BTW, BTW, what is the stratigraphic, weathered rind, or “other” evidence that the 30KYBP dating is based upon?
Looks like something was dragged across the rock. I think you have to know the total surroundings to even make a wild guess.
This rock only 2.7 inches long....suitable for holding in the hand...but purpose?? I see none...still think drag marks
like i said, it was a long time ago
In the future we’ll be implanting cheeps into rocks, like we currently implant into dogs and cats, to hold and collect (not necessarily in that order) data for use by future generations of scientists.
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