Ancient figurines carved from animal bones hint at a lost chapter of human history 40,000 years ago. Researchers found that certain objects, particularly figurines, carried higher 'information density,' meaning more symbols were deliberately engraved per surface area. Tools, flutes and ornaments also bear symbols, but to a lesser extent, suggesting a hierarchy in how symbols were applied depending on the object's purpose. These and other pieces reveal a deliberate symbolic system repeated across multiple objects. ' Until now, it was widely believed that the first writing system emerged in Mesopotamia with Sumerian cuneiform around 5,400 years ago.

Source: Daily Mail February 25, 2026 11:43 UTC