Stone Age Carvings Show Writing-Like Complexity 40K Years Ago
The Spin
Narrative A
Stone Age humans deliberately encoded information through systematic sequences of carved symbols 40,000 years ago, creating an early predecessor to writing with statistical complexity matching ancient Mesopotamian proto-cuneiform. These weren't random decorations but intentional patterns that could be reproduced and recognized within communities — revealing a gradual process of organizing information visually.
Narrative B
Though intriguing, the 40,000-year-old markings are not yet confirmed evidence of true writing. The markings on Stone Age objects remain a mystery, and decoding their meaning is exceptionally difficult. While patterns exist, calling these ancient decorations a predecessor to writing is premature and more study is needed.
Metaculus Prediction
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