Clay Tokens and the Origin of Writing Presentation by Mindy McAdams Week 2, Thursday MMC 2265

What are they?

What are they? Small — most are 0.5 to 1.25 inches long Made of (fired) clay 16 main types, including cone, sphere, disk, cylinder, tetrahedron For 4,000 years, they were very plain Later tokens have markings and distinct meanings

Small — most are 0.5 to 1.25 inches long

Made of (fired) clay

16 main types, including cone, sphere, disk, cylinder, tetrahedron

For 4,000 years, they were very plain

Later tokens have markings and distinct meanings

Simple vs. “complex”

The cradle of civilization People quit the nomadic life dependent on hunting and gathering Crops planted and cultivated Property ownership Trading goods and services Called the “agricultural revolution” (also the “Neolithic revolution”)

People quit the nomadic life dependent on hunting and gathering

Crops planted and cultivated

Property ownership

Trading goods and services

Called the “agricultural revolution” (also the “Neolithic revolution”)

The first cities were built in what is now Iraq Fertile agricultural land between two rivers Mixed religion and government

The first cities were built in what is now Iraq

Fertile agricultural land between two rivers

Mixed religion and government

From token to sign

Impressions on “envelopes”

Impressions on tablets

Development and change Plain tokens appeared when agriculture began (in Mesopotamia) Complex tokens appeared about the same time as cities there (circa 4000 B.C.E.) The first writing appeared about 3200 B.C.E. Writing was used only for accounting until about 2700 B.C.E.

Plain tokens appeared when agriculture began (in Mesopotamia)

Complex tokens appeared about the same time as cities there (circa 4000 B.C.E.)

The first writing appeared about 3200 B.C.E.

Writing was used only for accounting until about 2700 B.C.E.

“ Before 2700 … writing is only accounting . To recall what comes in the temple or the palace, and what comes out. So-and-so much gold, so-and-so many sheep, so-and-so many bushels of grain. It’s only numbers and the thing counted . And then, at some point, the name of who it belongs to . That’s it.” — Interview with Denise Schmandt-Besserat http:// www.kenyonreview.org/interviews/schmandt.php

When they were in use Earliest clay tokens date from about 8000 B.C.E. Clay tokens were used for five millennia (5,000 years) 3500 - 3200 B.C.E. Tokens start to be enclosed in clay “envelopes” 3100 - 3000 B.C.E. Tokens decline, decrease, disappear

Earliest clay tokens date from about

8000 B.C.E.

Clay tokens were used for five millennia (5,000 years)

3500 - 3200 B.C.E. Tokens start to be enclosed in clay “envelopes”

3100 - 3000 B.C.E. Tokens decline, decrease, disappear

Clay Tokens and the Origin of Writing Presentation by Mindy McAdams University of Florida