Banpo Neolithic Village Xi'an - 2008

27. Carved Signs

One hundred and thirteen pieces of carved signs were unearthed, dividing into 22 kinds. The carved signs mainly used for keeping records and they carried the nature of written language. They are embryonic form of Chinese character.

Archaeologists believe that early writings did exist in Banpo. Engraved symbols could be classified into 27 categories. They were believed to be the earliest mode of writing, even earlier than oracles of Shang Dynasty.