Non-textual marking systems, writing and pseudo script from prehistory to present times (Event: 17.12.-19.12.07, Berlin)

<p>Non-textual marking systems are known from many cultures and periods and share the common feature of encoding information by directly denoting a person, a group of persons or an institution that is in some way or other closely connected with the marked object (e.g., as its owner or producer). Even though the marks may be identical in shape with elements of writing systems and sometimes - but nut necessarily - even can be read, they occur irrespectively of whether the particular community has a script or not. As a consequence, we should treat them as a different type of symbol system, which in contrast to writing is not based on organized relations between graphic signs and linguistic elements.</p>
<p>The interdisciplinary colloquium dealt with a broad spectrum of non-textual marking systems (e.g. potmarks, mason s marks, seals, tags) and their interrelations with writing and pseudo script from a cross-cultural perspective.</p>