Name ______Core ______Date ______

A Really Old Notebook

VERACRUZ, Mexico An ancient slab of stone is inscribed with pictures of ears of corn, fish, insects, and other things. Scientists aren't sure what the symbols mean, but they are sure of one thing—they are a form of writing. In fact, scientists say that the symbols, which date back thousands of years, are the oldest writing ever found in the Western Hemisphere.

"We are dealing with the first, clear evidence of writing in the New World," said Stephen Houston, an anthropologist at Brown University in Rhode Island.

Scientists say that several clues indicate that the symbols are in fact a form of writing. The block, which was found in Mexico, contains 28 distinct glyphs that run horizontally. Some of the symbols are repeated three and four times, like words in a passage.

"That's full-blown, legitimate text—written symbols taking the place of spoken words," said William Saturno, a University of New Hampshire anthropologist and expert in Mesoamerican writing.

The symbols cover the face of the block, which is the size of a standard legal pad but weighs a

hefty 26 pounds. The surface of the block is smooth and slightly concave, as if someone had written on it and erased it several times. Scientists say that the tablet was probably not a public document. They point out that the symbols on it are small and faint, suggesting that it was used in private.

Villagers in the Mexican state of Veracruz unearthed the slab sometime before 1999, while quarrying an ancient mound for material to build a road. Word of the discovery spread to the anthropology community, and scientists traveled to the site to examine the tablet.

Based on the location of the slab and the objects surrounding it, scientists concluded that it dates back about 2,900 years, to the Olmec Civilization. The villagers who discovered the stone live near a site called San Lorenzo, which was probably the center of the Olmec world. The Olmecs thrived between about 1200 B.C. and 400 B.C. They are best known for the massive heads that they carved from stone, possibly in honor of their leaders. Now, though, the Olmecs have another distinction—they were the earliest known "writers" in the New World.

This is a breakthrough for Olmec scholars. Prior to this discovery, they speculated that the Olmecs may have had a written language. In 2002, they even found symbols that some experts credited to the Olmecs. Now that scientists have found a confirmed example of Olmec symbols, they can be certain that the civilization communicated in writing as well as speech. It also means that they have found a previously unknown writing system—a rare discovery.

"This is centuries before anything we've [found before]," said David Stuart, an expert in Mesoamerican writing. Stuart was not part of the original study, but he reviewed it. "People have debated whether the Olmecs had any writing. This clears it up. This nails it for me."

Dictionary

anthropologist(noun)a person who studies human culture or human development
concave(adjective)curved inward like the inner surface of a bowl or sphere
glyph(noun)a symbol or character, especially one that has been carved out in a stone surface
legitimate(adjective)reasonable enough to believe
mound(noun)a pile of earth, stones, or other material built up for some purpose

Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the choice the best completes the statement. (2 points each)

1. The best alternate headline for this article would be ______.

  1. Scientists Discover Huge Heads Carved from Stone
  2. Scientists Translate Ancient Language
  3. Scientists Still Seeking Clues to Tablet's Origin
  4. Scientists Find New World's Earliest Writing

2. Based on information in the article, how can the reader tell that the block might have been used for fairly unimportant writing?

  1. The block was erased several times.
  2. The block did not have any symbols.
  3. The block was broken in many places.
  4. The block did not weigh much.

3. Think about the tablet described in the fifth paragraph. Based on information in other parts of the article, the reader can tell that ______.

  1. The symbols found in 2002 must have helped scientists to translate this tablet.
  2. The symbols found in 2002 must be different from the symbols found on this tablet.
  3. The symbols found in 2002 must have helped scientists to locate this tablet.
  4. The symbols found in 2002 must be clearer than the symbols found on this tablet.

4. Which of these is included in the article as a reason to believe that the Olmecs were responsible for the tablet?

  1. The color of the tablet
  2. The location of the tablet
  3. The size of the tablet
  4. The age of the tablet

5. Suppose scientists wanted to determine whether the Olmecs lived in a particular region. Based on the information in the article, what might they look for?

  1. The 2002 symbols
  2. A wide stone road
  3. A giant head sculpture
  4. Pieces of glassware

6. Which is the closest synonym for the word concave?

  1. Scratched
  2. Ancient
  3. Curved in
  4. Faded away

7. Which is the closest antonym for the word legitimate?

  1. Unique
  2. Informal
  3. Unbelievable
  4. Notable

8. Which of these statements is contrary to the ideas presented in the article?

  1. Scientists found the stone slab while looking for other ancient objects in Rhode Island.
  2. Scientists are not certain about the origin of symbols that they found four years ago.
  3. Scientists now believe that the Olmecs were the earliest writers in the Western Hemisphere.
  4. Scientists believe that the symbols are a language because they are repeated, like words in a passage

Opinion Question: Now that you have read the article, indicate in the space below whether you agree or disagree with this statement. What should scientists do next to learn more about the Olmec Civilization? (5 points)

Thought Question:In the space below write a summary of today's article. (5 points)