The origin of pictographic & ideographic writing systems are imagined in the first part of this story (proto-writing). The rebus principal is introduced, setting the stage for the development of an alphabet. Featuring some key artifacts from France, Spain, Egypt & Ancient Sumer: Cave Drawings, Narmer Palette, Hunters Palette, Cuneiform Accounting Tablets.

references (book):
- The Alphabetic Labyrinth (Crucker)
- Letter Perfect (David Sacks)
- Empire and Communications (Innis)
- The Science of Language (Chomsky)

web:
- http://cuneiform.library.cornell.edu/
- http://www.citrinitas.com/history_of_viscom/

Stock footage thanks to:
- University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology