Written in Stone: Ancient Stones that Changed the World

Since the dawn of mankind, people looked for ways to communicate, as a means to preserve information, and a legacy of knowledge and culture. One of the most fascinating and essential ways to achieve it has been to record messages in stone. Those written stones, also known as stone stars or stone tablets, had been essential for preserving human history and traditions. In this fourth article in the series, we will explore a couple of amazing examples of such artifacts that have changed the world due to their major content.

1. Ancient Stone Stars from Mexico and Colombia

One notable example is Mexico’s Stone Star. This stone revealed an ancient writing system of the Zapotec civilization, providing new insights into the culture and history of this civilization. Besides, from the Inga people from Colombia, we have an engraved stone, known as the Inga Stone, which depicts a rare and detailed star chart, a sign of their advanced astronomical knowledge.

2. Rosetta Stone: the key to decoding Egyptian hieroglyphs

The Rosetta Stone is undoubtedly one of the most famous inscribed stones in history. Discovered in 1799, this stone was essential for decoding Egyptian hieroglyphics. Thanks to the existence of a similar text in three different languages - Greek, Demotic, and hieroglyphic - scholars were able to decode the meaning of the hieroglyphs, revealing a deeper understanding of ancient Egyptian civilization.

3. Ogham: Writing engraved on stones in Ireland

Ogham is a unique stone-engraved writing system that was used in Ireland and other parts of the British Isles in the early medieval period. This system consists of a series of lines and marks inscribed on the edges of stones, with varying meanings and uses. Ogham inscribed stones are both a form of communication and a way of recording genealogical links and important events.

4. Hot Springs Tablet: A message for the future, in Big Bend National Park

The Hot Springs Tablet, discovered in Big Bend National Park in the United States, is another example of an inscribed stone that has changed the world with its message. It was placed by members of an expedition in 1916, to convey information about the direction they were heading in search of drinking water in an arid area. This message is a moving testimony to the human struggle for survival and cooperation in the face of nature's challenges.

5. Hunger Stones and the message of climate change

In Europe, "Hunger Stones" - inscribed stones placed in riverbeds to mark severe droughts - have been discovered. These stones have a special significance in the context of climate change, highlighting the devastating implications of droughts on historical and contemporary populations.

Inscribed stones are more than just objects - they are windows to the past, recording human experiences, thoughts, and achievements. Whether they revealed the secrets of ancient cultures, helped decode ancient languages, or conveyed vital messages, these stones have played an essential role in shaping our knowledge of the past world. Thus, we continue to marvel and draw inspiration from these stone testimonies of humanity.

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