4 ms·

AFAIK, writing evolved as a way to keep track of business transactions as did money and credit systems. So, I expect writing to follow agriculture and some urb

AFAIK, writing evolved as a way to keep track of business transactions as did money and credit systems. So, I expect writing to follow agriculture and some urbanization when a large population trades with each other.

zasdffaa 4y ago
That was my understanding too, but britain back then (let's say 1 AD, a bit pre-roman invasion) wasn't remotely uninhabited and those there were mainly farmers AIUI. Also that doesn't explain the lack of 'ornaments'. Consider the olmecs (1500 BCE to about 400 BCE) (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmecs https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmecs) who may just about have had a writing system (or not) and look at what they made: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmecs#Artifacts https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmecs#Artifacts In britain at the time, apparently bugger all. Almost anyway, there is this https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silbury_Hill https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silbury_Hill and: "The hill was constructed in several stages between c.2400–2300 BC[6] and displays immense technical skill and prolonged control over labour and resources" That's not the product of a bunch of scattered farmers so I just do not get it.