My List of the Top Ten Oldest Forms of the MEDIA

In my opinion, these are the most ancient forms of the media:
1. Ostrich Egg Etchings - Africa - circa 60,000 BC
2. Petroglyphs - Neolithic and late Upper Paleolithic boundary - circa 10,000 BC
3. Jiahu Symbols - Jiahu - circa 6,600 BC
4. Cuniform - Sumer - circa 3,000 BC
5. Hieroglyphics - Egypt - circa 3,000 BC
6. Homing pigeons - Mesopotamia - circa 2,350 BC
7. Bone Writing - China - circa 1,400 BC
8. Drum Beat Codes - China - circa 1,300 BC
9. Postal Service - China - 900 BC
10. Smoke Signals - China - 900 BC

Now it's time to reflect on three of them:

1.
Ostrich Egg Etchings - Africa - circa 60,000 BC

Engraved patterns on the side of ostrich eggs dating back to the Stone Age could be the oldest form of written communication known to man, claims a new study. Long before human communication evolved into incessant tapping on computer keys, people scratched on eggshells.The etchings were used to mark the eggs which had been turned into water flasks by hunter gatherers in Africa. Researchers say a cache of ostrich eggshells engraved with geometric designs demonstrates the existence of a symbolic communication system around 60,000 years ago among African hunter-gatherers.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/7346017/Ostrich-egg-patterns-oldest-form-of-art-and-communication.html



2.
Drum Beat Codes - China - circa 1,300 BC

The drum occupies a prominent place in Chinese culture. Though the exact origin of the Chinese drum is still subject to debate, ancient literatures show that it is about as old as Chinese history itself. The earliest documentation of its application in ancient China occurs in Oracle Inscriptions (Jiaguwen) of the Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century BC). As an old and wonderful form of art, the drum finds application in almost every aspect of Chinese social life, including sacrificial and worshiping ceremonies, farming, and warfare, and throughout the centuries it has been imbued with profound cultural implications. Some are masculine, giving off a sense of invincible might; some are more delicate with nimble and graceful dancing steps; and there are still others that possess both qualities. This rich array of artistic expressions from the Chinese drum culture gives full expression to the vitality of the Chinese nation. The drum was used as a way to communicate: codes were used to be played over long distances for the sending and receiving of messages and for the communications of music and dance.

Source: http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_artqa/2006-02/06/content_79017.htm



3.
Smoke Signals - China - 900 BC

In Ancient China, soldiers stationed along the Great Wall would alert each other of impending enemy attack by signaling from tower to tower. In this way, they were able to transmit a message as far away as 470 miles in just a few hours. Smoke signals are a form of optical telegraph. In other words, these messages can be sent over distances as long as you can see each signal. Smoke signals are sent by placing a cover (such as a blanket) over an open fire. After you make the fire, you can create a lot of smoke by adding handfuls of grass or green branches. By quickly lifting the cover for a short time, a puff of smoke will be sent up into the air, sending a message, such as in need of help. With training, a person can learn to control the puffs. People can learn to control the size, shapes, and time between puffs.

Source: http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00451/smokesignals.htm