Professor Mindy McAdams's presentation about the work of Dr. Denise Schmandt-Besserat.

1. Clay Tokens and the Origin of Writing Presentation by Mindy McAdams Week 2, Thursday MMC 2265

2. What are they?

4. Simple vs. “complex”

8. From token to sign

9. Impressions on “envelopes”

10. Impressions on tablets

12. “ Before 2700 … writing is only accounting . To recall what comes in the temple or the palace, and what comes out. So-and-so much gold, so-and-so many sheep, so-and-so many bushels of grain. It’s only numbers and the thing counted . And then, at some point, the name of who it belongs to . That’s it.” — Interview with Denise Schmandt-Besserat http:// www.kenyonreview.org/interviews/schmandt.php

14. Clay Tokens and the Origin of Writing Presentation by Mindy McAdams University of Florida