What question did this study set out to answer?

To explore the origins of writing beyond administrative needs, focusing on symbolic practices in the Upper Palaeolithic.

July 1, 2026EPISTÉMÈ

Prolegomena to an Anthroposemiotic Theory of Prehistoric Writing

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Proposes an anthroposemiotic theory of writing’s origins in prehistoric practices, suggesting deeper cognitive implications.

To explore the origins of writing beyond administrative needs, focusing on symbolic practices in the Upper Palaeolithic.
Analyzed cave art, geometric signs, and architecture as forms of symbolic communication.
Utilized concepts such as archi-écriture and spatial syntax to examine the organization of marks.
Investigated the role of these practices in the formation of cognitive and symbolic ecosystems.
Identified that prehistoric marks organized spatial relations before phonetic scripts emerged.
Demonstrated the role of graphic and ritual practices in facilitating memory and meaning-making.
Concluded that writing's origins are rooted in a broader cognitive evolution of Homo symbolicus.

Kim et al. (2026) studied this question.

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