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clay stamped seals

Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2022 8:24 am
by StephenGoranson
In many anciently populated areas of the Near East most writings on papyrus or skin deteriorated after several decades, except, like much of Egypt and some areas near the Dead Sea, if they were in areas that were quite arid. Clay vessel storage also helped in preservation.

One indication of writing that did not survive is clay seals used to seal, for instance, folded and tied papyrus letters. The clay, though itself fragile, is relatively more able to survive than the papyrus writing surface. Some clay objects include fingerprints and impressions from papyrus fibers.

So archaeologists know that there was more ancient writing than is sometimes asserted in less well-informed or tendentious claims.