What the study found
The study found that geometric sign sequences on Aurignacian artifacts were deliberate, systematic, and conventional rather than random. The authors also report that these sign sequences were comparable in statistical structure to those on the earliest protocuneiform tablets, which are early writing-like tablets.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the first hunter-gatherers arriving in Europe were already using sign sequences of comparable complexity many thousands of years before genuine writing appeared. They suggest this adds to understanding of how humans stored and shared information in the Paleolithic period.
What the researchers tested
The researchers analyzed more than 200 mobile objects from the Aurignacian culture, dated to 43,000 to 34,000 years ago, and cataloged several thousand geometric signs on them. They used classification algorithms and statistical models to measure quantitative properties of the sign sequences and compare them with modern writing and early protocuneiform tablets.
What worked and what didn't
The analyses showed that the Paleolithic sign sequences were clearly distinguishable from modern writing. They also showed statistical similarity to the earliest protocuneiform tablets and that signs were applied more densely on some object types, such as ivory figurines compared with tools. The authors state that these results do not strictly prove that the Aurignacian signs encoded numero-ideographic information, meaning number-and-idea-based writing-like content.
What to keep in mind
The abstract says the findings do not prove that the Aurignacian sign sequences had the same meaning as protocuneiform tablets. The analysis is based on a corpus of mobile objects from one archaeological culture and period, so the claims are limited to that available sample.
Key points
- More than 200 Aurignacian artifacts with several thousand geometric signs were analyzed.
- The sign sequences were distinguishable from modern writing.
- Their statistical properties were comparable to the earliest protocuneiform tablets.
- Signs were applied more densely on some objects, such as ivory figurines, than on tools.
- The authors say the results do not prove the signs encoded numero-ideographic information.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Aurignacian signs formed conventional, structured sequences
- Authors:
- Christian Bentz, Ewa Dutkiewicz
- Institutions:
- Museum of Science, Saarland University, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, University of Passau
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-23
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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