Scrivere nella preistoria. Osservazioni su oggetti portatili incisi nel Vicino Oriente Neolitico

The extraordinary spread of symbolic and ritual forms during the Neolithic in the Near East is known as one of the most important developments in human evolution. Among these symbolic configurations, iconic and geometric representations have been the focus of several studies, particularly in the last 50-60 years, considering the numerous archaeological discoveries that highlight the extraordinary capacity for cooperation and communication in the first large villages. The present work examines images on portable artefacts (n=304), such as stone tools and plaques, from 27 Neolithic settlements (ca 9700-6600 BC) located in different regions of Southwest Asia. The proposed observations shed light on the possible use of such portable objects and in general on the origins of graphic communication in prehistory. It is argued that the invention of writing originated from the development of certain written communication systems that emerged as early as these crucial prehistoric stages.