A message from 3,000 years ago.

• Position: Discovered from a stone in Veracruz, Mexico - Brief article

The earliest known example of writing in the Western Hemisphere was recently found on an Olmec stone in Veracruz, Mexico. Earlier writing samples have been found elsewhere.

3000 B.C.

EGYPT, 3200-3000 B.C. Early Egyptians used hieroglyphics, a system of pictorial writing.

SUMER, 3200 B.C. The Sumerians are thought to have produced the first written texts.

2000 B.C.

INDUS VALLEY 2S00 B.C. Inhabitants of what is now Pakistan used ceramic seals to indicate ownership or destinations of goods.

1000 B.C.

CHINA

1500-1200 B.C. The Chinese made inscriptions on shells and bones.

100 B.C.

MESOAMERICA, 900 B.C.

The stone (drawing...