New Evidence of Early Form of Writing in Mexico
Abstracted from The New York Times
By John Noble Wilford
New England Antiquities Research Association
New Evidence of Early Form of Writing in Mexico
Abstracted from The New York Times
By John Noble Wilford
December 6, 2002
"Centuries before the famously literate Maya, even before the Zapotecs, the Olmecs of ancient Mexico were carving symbols on stone and ceramics 2,600 years ago…” A team of archaeologists led by Dr. Mary E.D. Pohl of Florida State University think “it is the earliest form of writing ever found in the New World.” The report issued in the journal Science focuses attention on the Olmec civilization, previously best known for the colossal stone heads. The artifacts consist of a cylinder seal and a fragment of pottery found near La Venta in the state of Tabasco.
"The Olmec writing has not been deciphered, but several glyphs, the researchers said, shared several similarities with much later Mayan words….The archaeologists also said the excavations produced compelling evidence of a connection between Olmec writing, the sacred 260-day calendar and kingship, all hallmarks of later Mesoamerican cultures."
The report was funded primarily by the National Science Foundation and included, besides Dr. Pohl, Dr. Kevin O. Pope of Geo Eco Arc Research in Maryland, and Dr. Christopher von Nagy of Tulane University. The authors are aware of the controversial nature of their interpretation, but Dr. Michael D. Coe, of Yale, an authority on Mayan culture said “It’s controversial, but that’s all right…it’s worth publishing."
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This is an advance "gleaning" from the NEARA Transit, abstracted by Ros Strong. Additional advance news-making material will be posted here as it becomes available. The NEARA Transit is a twice yearly NEARA publication of archeological news and abstracts.
New England Antiquities Research Association