Ostracon: a fragment of pottery or masonry with writing (as opposed to a potsherd, which describes any pottery fragment). Pottery fragments have been found at ancient settlements going back thousands of years, but finding ones with writing are a rarer occurence. When ostracons are found it's a big deal, like this 3,000-year-old example of Hebrew, believed to be the oldest in existence.
#
 
No comments at this time.
| 
