Description
Book SynopsisA groundbreaking theory on the origins of writing, now presented for a general audience.
Trade ReviewDiscoveries in the history of writing are rare, but Denise Schmandt-Besserat made one in realizing that phonetic writing in the West descends not from pictography, a view repeated everywhere, but from abstract, nonphonetic, mostly noniconographic accounting tokens used in Neolithic farming communities of the Near East beginning from about 8000 B.C. A condensation of volume I of
Before Writing ...this book is a perfect production, utterly lucid, thoughtfully illustrated, and thoroughly convincing. * American Journal of Archaeology *
Table of Contents
- Preface
- Introduction: Tokens, a New Theory
- The Myths
- The Pictographic Theory
- Tokens
- Part One: The Evidence
- 1. What Are Tokens?
- Types and Subtypes
- Evolution from Plain to Complex Materials
- Manufacture
- The Token Collection under Study
- 2. Where Tokens Were Handled and Who Used Them
- Types of Settlements
- Distribution within Settlements
- Structures
- Token Clusters
- Containers Holding Tokens
- Associated Assemblages
- Tokens as Funerary Offerings
- 3.Strings of Tokens and Envelopes
- Strings of Tokens
- Envelopes
- 4. Impressed Tablets
- Number
- Context
- Chronology
- Description
- The Signs
- Beyond the Impressed Tablets: Pictography
- The Meaning of Signs and Their Corresponding Tokens
- The Place of Impressed Tablets in the Evolution of Writing
- Part Two: The Interpretation
- 5. The Evolution of Symbols in Prehistory
- Symbols and Signs
- Lower and Middle Paleolithic Symbols
- Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic Symbols
- Neolithic Symbols
- A Turning Point in Communication and Data Storage
- 6. Tokens: The Socioeconomic Implications
- Reckoning Technology and Economy
- Reckoning Technology and Social Organization
- 7. Counting and the Emergence of Writing
- The Various Modes of Counting
- The Sumerian Philological Evidence
- The Near Eastern Archaeological Data
- 8. Conclusions: Tokens, Their Role in Prehistory and Their Contribution to Archaeology
- Economy
- Political Structure
- Mathematics
- Communication
- Part Three: The Artifacts
- Cones
- Spheres
- Disks
- Cylinders
- Tetrahedrons
- Ovoids
- Quadrangles
- Triangles
- Biconoids
- Paraboloids
- Bent Coils
- Ovals/Rhomboids
- Vessels
- Tools
- Animals
- Miscellaneous
- Notes
- Glossary
- Index
