Written on the lice comb... The oldest sentence written in the first alphabet solved
2Written on the lice comb... The oldest sentence written in the first alphabet solved
The Canaanite script, which emerged about 3,800 years ago and is described as the oldest alphabet, was finally solved by experts after five years of work.
The oldest legible sentence written in the first known alphabet was found on a lice comb, thought to date from 1700 BC. According to The Guardian, the unique find was unearthed during excavations in Lachish, known as the second most important city in the Kingdom of Judah.
ANALYSIS FOR 5 YEARS
The comb, measuring 3.5 centimeters by 2.5 centimeters, was actually unearthed in 2017. However, the analysis of the writings on the comb took quite a long time.
Experts examining the find confirmed that the marks on the comb are the Canaanite script, which emerged about 3,800 years ago and is described as the oldest alphabet. Although the researchers tried to find out exactly when the comb was made using carbon dating, the efforts were not clear. However, considering historical texts and other clues, the team estimates that the comb was made around 1700 BC.
INDICATOR OF WEALTH
The comb is worn and has lost many of its teeth. Still, the remaining traces show that it had 6 widely spaced teeth for removing tangled hair and 14 narrowly spaced teeth for removing lice.
According to researchers, ancient combs were made of wood, bone and ivory. Items made of ivory were a sign of wealth.
Writing appeared about 5,200 years ago in Mesopotamia and Egypt. However, these early writing systems were not alphabetic. There were numerous signs, often representing words and syllables.
THEY ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO DESCRIBE
The alphabet appeared later, but it is not known exactly when it was invented due to the lack of archaeological evidence. Many researchers think that the alphabet emerged about 3,800 years ago. On the other hand, there are clues that it was invented 4,300 years ago.
In addition, how people use the alphabet remains a mystery. Because the oldest texts found are both very short and very difficult to decipher. That's why experts say the inscription on the ivory comb is a very important discovery.
HERE IS THE OLDEST SENTENCE WRITED WITH THE FIRST ALPHABET
The find shows that humans have actually fought against lice for thousands of years, and that even the wealthiest people with ivory combs cannot avoid getting lice. The pointed ivory comb reads "Let these teeth root out hair and beard lice".
Leading the excavations in the ancient Jewish city of Lachish, Prof. Dr. "This inscription is very human," said Yosef Garfinkel. "You have a comb and it is written on the comb that you wish to destroy lice in the hair and beard," the archaeologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem added:
Today we have sprays, modern drugs and poisons. They didn't exist in the past.
According to the research published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Jerusalem Journal of Archeology, the markings on the comb represent 17 letters. Most importantly, these letters form a complete and understandable sentence written in the ancient Canaanite language spoken in the ancient city of Lachish.
There are also several long inscriptions from the same time period as the comb. However, researchers found it difficult to read these texts and it was unclear what they were about.
"Ancient alphabetic inscriptions are often very short, consisting of just a few letters and usually the name of a person or an object," said Christopher Rollston, a Semitic specialist at the University of Washington.
"It is particularly fascinating that this inscription relates to ordinary life," said Rollston.
Lice have been a problem throughout human history. And this inscription makes it clear that even the rich and famous in ancient times were not exempt from such problems."