Can you please supply me with the earliest known records and manuscripts kept and places of their origin; for the record of the earliest known intelligent human life on earth?
The earliest records and manuscripts documenting human civilization and early intelligent life can be traced back to several key ancient cultures. Here are some of the notable examples:
### 1. **Sumerian Civilization (Mesopotamia)**
– **Earliest Records:** Cuneiform Tablets
– **Date:** Around 3400 BCE
– **Place of Origin:** Sumer, in present-day southern Iraq
– **Significance:** The Sumerians are credited with creating one of the first writing systems, cuneiform. These clay tablets contain records of transactions, administrative documents, and some of the earliest known literature, including the “Epic of Gilgamesh.”
### 2. **Ancient Egyptian Civilization**
– **Earliest Records:** Hieroglyphic Inscriptions
– **Date:** Around 3100 BCE
– **Place of Origin:** Egypt
– **Significance:** The Egyptians developed a complex writing system known as hieroglyphics. Early inscriptions are found on tombs and temple walls, with some of the earliest examples being the Narmer Palette and various tomb inscriptions.
### 3. **Indus Valley Civilization**
– **Earliest Records:** Indus Script Seals
– **Date:** Around 2600 BCE
– **Place of Origin:** Present-day Pakistan and northwest India
– **Significance:** The Indus Valley Civilization developed a script used on seals and pottery. While the script remains undeciphered, these artifacts suggest a complex and organized society.
### 4. **Chinese Civilization**
– **Earliest Records:** Oracle Bones
– **Date:** Around 1200 BCE
– **Place of Origin:** Shang Dynasty, China
– **Significance:** The earliest Chinese writing appears on oracle bones used for divination. These inscriptions are among the earliest examples of Chinese characters and provide insight into early Chinese society and beliefs.
### 5. **Minoan Civilization (Crete)**
– **Earliest Records:** Linear A Tablets
– **Date:** Around 1800 BCE
– **Place of Origin:** Crete, Greece
– **Significance:** The Minoan civilization used a script known as Linear A, primarily for administrative purposes. While Linear A remains largely undeciphered, it is a precursor to the later Linear B script used by the Mycenaean Greeks.
### 6. **Mayan Civilization**
– **Earliest Records:** Hieroglyphic Inscriptions
– **Date:** Around 3rd century BCE
– **Place of Origin:** Mesoamerica (present-day Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador)
– **Significance:** The Mayans developed a complex writing system with hieroglyphs used in codices, stelae, and other monuments, documenting their history, astronomy, and rituals.
### 7. **Olmec Civilization**
– **Earliest Records:** Olmec Inscriptions
– **Date:** Around 900 BCE
– **Place of Origin:** Present-day Mexico
– **Significance:** The Olmec civilization is known for its early use of writing and possibly influencing later Mesoamerican scripts. Artifacts like the Cascajal Block suggest the use of an early writing system.
These records and manuscripts provide a glimpse into the early development of human civilization and intelligent life on earth, reflecting the diverse ways in which ancient cultures documented their existence, beliefs, and achievements.