Archaeologists have found 4,000-year-old characters, even older than the oracle¹ bones scripts, in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous² Region.

 

考古学家在内蒙古发现一些有4000年历史的字迹，这些字迹甚至比甲骨文还要悠久。
 

 

Ink marks, which were confirmed to be three or four characters, were found on a pottery³ piece unearthed⁴ at Gaojiataizi, the ruins of the Lower Xiajiadian Culture in the city of Chifeng, Lian Jilin, with the regional research institute of cultural heritage and archaeology⁵, said Sunday.

 

The ruins, an area of over 10,000 square meters, were jointly⁶ excavated⁷ by the institute and Jilin University.

 

Experts from the National Museum of China confirmed the marks were characters left by animal-fur brush with ink, said Lian.

 

The words, which were written smoothly⁸, are believed to be connected with sacrificial activities.

 

Pottery scripts, together with those of oracle bones and bronze objects, have been known for long term preservation⁹.

 

"The oracle bones, scripts from some 3,000 years ago in the Shang Dynasty, may have originated from the pottery scripts," he said, adding the discovery has offered new evidence to trace the origin of oracle bones.

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