What the study found
The study found that geometric sign sequences on Aurignacian objects from 43,000 to 34,000 years ago were deliberate, systematic, and conventional. The authors report that these sequences are distinct from modern writing but statistically comparable to the earliest protocuneiform tablets, which are very early written records.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the first hunter-gatherers arriving in Europe were already using sign sequences with comparable complexity to much later systems. They say this shows that such information use appeared several ten thousand years before the advent of genuine writing.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed a corpus of more than 200 mobile objects associated with the Aurignacian culture in Central Europe. They examined several thousand geometric signs using classification algorithms and statistical models to measure their quantitative properties.
What worked and what didn't
Their analyses showed that the Paleolithic sign sequences were clearly distinguishable from modern writing. They also found that the statistical properties of these signs were comparable to those on the earliest protocuneiform tablets, and that signs were applied more densely on some object types, such as ivory figurines, than on tools.
What to keep in mind
The authors state that these results do not strictly prove that Aurignacian sign sequences encoded numero-ideographic information like protocuneiform. The available summary does not describe additional limitations beyond this caution.
Key points
- More than 200 Aurignacian objects were analyzed for several thousand geometric signs.
- The sign sequences were distinguishable from modern writing.
- Their statistical properties were comparable to those of the earliest protocuneiform tablets.
- Signs were used more densely on ivory figurines than on tools.
- The authors do not claim the findings strictly prove numero-ideographic encoding.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Aurignacian signs were deliberate and conventional
- Authors:
- Christian Bentz, Ewa Dutkiewicz
- Institutions:
- University of Passau, Saarland University, Museum of Science, Berlin State Library, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-23
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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