In 1961, archaeologist Nicolae Vlassa discovered what may be direct evidence of the world’s earliest forms of writing. While conducting archaeological excavations at a Neolithic site in Romania, Vlassa’s team discovered three small clay tablets containing indecipherable engravings, now known as the Tartaria Tablets. . There have been many different interpretations of the meaning of the engravings on the plaque. Some believe the inscriptions are a primitive form of writing, while others believe they are hieroglyphs, random scribbles, religious symbols, or symbols of ownership.
Each pellet is about 2 ½ inches across. Two are rectangular, one is round. Round tablet and one rectangular tablet with holes drilled through. These clay tablets were unfired and were discovered along with 26 clay and stone figurines, a shell bracelet, and damaged human bones. Some believe that these tablets were actually found in a sacrificial burial pit. The tablets were engraved on only one side and the inscriptions resembled an animal with horns, unclear shapes, motifs of plants, branches or trees and many mostly abstract symbols.
A sketch showing the symbols on the Tartarian Tablet. Photo source: Atlanticipedia
There is uncertainty about the date of these tablets. The conservation unit at the Cluj Museum in Romania fired the tablets to preserve them so they could be carbon-14 dated. Initially, these tablets were thought to originate from part of the Vinča-Turdaș culture, dating back to 2700 BC. However, through carbon dating, it has been shown that these tablets may have originated around 5500 BC during the early Eridu phase of the Sumerian civilization in Mesopotamia. River. Due to conflicting stratigraphic evidence, estimates based on carbon dating are disputed.
There is much scholarly debate about the meaning of the inscriptions on the tablets. Some scholars have concluded that inscriptions were an early form of writing. They arrived at this conclusion based on four assumptions. At first, the lines appear to be arranged in rows. Second, each letter seems to have a clear meaning. Third, there are standard shapes that were used by scribes on other artifacts from the Danube civilization. And fourth, the symbols create a linear shape comparable to other ancient writing systems. Although these assumptions lead to the conclusion that the inscriptions are a primitive form of writing, it is not known what type of writing they represent.
Neolithic Tartary Tablets Monument, dated to 5500-5300 BC and discovered in 1961 in Tartary, Alba County, Romania. Image source: Wikipedia
Other scholars view the inscriptions as a collection of hieroglyphs and random scribbles. Due to speculation that these tablets were found at a sacrificial burial site, many believe that these symbols have a religious context. Some scholars believe that the human bones found with these tablets belonged to a priest, a magician, a medium, or a high-ranking official. Ignoring Vlassa’s description of a sacrificial ritual, some scholars believe that the man died in a fire and was later buried with the tablets because they were important to him when he was young. living. Others still believe that the bones are those of a “high priest” who was burned alive after serving his term, according to Sumerian tradition, in honor of the great God Saue. It has even been suggested that the two boards with holes drilled into them may have been worn simultaneously, in an overlapping fashion, in some kind of initiation ceremony.
Much debate about the dates of the tablets stems from inconsistencies in the discovery and subsequent baking of the tablets. The strange thing is that Vlassa was not actually present when the tablets were discovered. The reason for his absence at the time was never explained. These tablets were found in a pit with high humidity and covered with limestone. For this reason, these pills are very soft when uncovered. Before any photos were taken, the tablets were baked in a meaningful but hasty attempt to preserve them. Perhaps further analysis before baking will provide answers to some of the questions that persist to this day. It was argued that instead of being carbon dated, baking prevented the pills from passing carbon testing.
Overall, the analysis of the Tartarian tablets has led to many interesting hypotheses about early human culture as well as the emergence of written communication. While ancient artifacts may initially answer many questions about human civilization, in this case it is clear that some of the findings ultimately lead us to more questions than answers. .
