Anthony
(6) Chinese Writing Gets Older with 3500-Year-Old Characters Found
[CND, 03/29/98] Further evidence of the antiquity of the Chinese writing
system has come to light with the discovery of some 3500-year-old sheep
bones in Shandong Province, Xinhua reported. Two of the bones, discovered
in a sacrificial pit, were carved with characters including those for
'six' and 'divination'.
Like Egyptian hieroglyphics, Chinese characters are amongst the most
ancient written forms in the world, but whereas use of the Egyptian
system has long died out, recognisable relatives of primitive Chinese
characters are still in use today.
The eight carved inscriptions found in Shandong are 300 years older than
the previous record holders, found in Henan Province and also carved in
bones. (Ray ZHANG, Liedong ZHENG)