#British Museum British Museum collection database

     * Skip to content
     * Skip to Main menu

   The British Museum uses cookies to ensure you have the best browsing
   experience and to help us improve the site.
   By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of
   cookies. Find out more
   x

   This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are
   agreeing to our use of cookies. Find out more
   x

   The British Museum
     * Visiting
     * Membership
     * What's on
     * Support us
     * Explore
     * Channel
     * Research
     * Blog
     * Learning
     * Shop
     * About us

   Â
   Search: ____________________ (Go) Search the website
   More search options
     * Search the website
     * Search the collection
     * Search the shop

     * Explore
     * Young explorers
     * Discover
     * Videos

   Young explorers
     * Create
     * Play
     * Discover
          + Museum explorer
          + A closer look
          + All about
          + Ask the expert
          + Videos
     * Post

A brief history of writing

   A brief history of writing

   To view this video online please enable javascript.

   To view this video online please install the Flash player

   We use it so much that it's easy to think that writing has always been
   around.
   But like most things it had to be invented.

Watch more videos

   A brief history of time telling

Time telling

   A brief history of Clothing

Clothing

   A brief history of money

Money

Families enewsletter

Activities, events, trails and more

   Receive regular updates about the range of free family events and
   activities
   ____________________ Sign up

Young

   explorers

   Your guide to using
   this section safely

   Find out more

Enewsletter sign up

   ____________________ Sign up

Follow the British Museum

     * Facebook
     * Twitter
     * YouTube
     * Flickr
     * Blog

Share britishmuseum.org

     * Facebook2k
     * Twitter853
     * StumbleUpon13k
     * Delicious687
     * Google+255

     * Contact us
     * Accessibility
     * Site map
     * Terms of use
     * Cookies
     * FAQs
     * Chinese site 中文
     * Arabic site النسخة العربية
     * Portable Antiquities Scheme
     * Mobile site

   © Trustees of the British Museum