What was used before Books?

josh.thomas | 14:14 Wed 19th Apr 2006 | Arts & Literature

15 Answers

I answered this question a few months ago myself, and I actually learned the correct answer from the TV show, Buffy.

But last night, in conversation, I couldn't remember the answer I gave.

Its not scrolls, or anything like that.

Thanks!

jodi picoult

Gouache on canvas

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auldyin

tablets perhaps?

josh.thomas

Question Author

:( No, thats not it.

I remember saying the word, and the whole class gasped, and the guy giving the talk was quite surprised that anyone knew the answer, as its not a commonly used word.

OH LORD SOMEBODY HELP ME!

Was awake all night trying to think of the word....

Lou Knee

papyrus?

josh.thomas

Question Author

Nooo, thats not it either...

I think its slowly driving me insane!

It was a word used in that supernatural TV series, Buffy.

A word to describe really old texts... I have just gone totally blank!

Lonnie

If before books, therefore possibly before the written word, how abour Minstrels, storytellers, word of mouth?.

josh.thomas

Question Author

Well, I never said it wasn't written/recorded on paper, I just said its a word to describe old texts.

I thought of scrolls, but that didn't seem to click with me.

Clanad

Codex or codice...

josh.thomas

Question Author

Nopes, I don't know what those 2 words mean, therefore, I wouldn't dare use them.. I have heard codex before though :)

auldyin

parchments?

josh.thomas

Question Author

That could be it!

But, for some reason, Manuscript is suddenly ringing a bell with me!

I think it might have been manuscript... Oh god! Why can't I remember! Sorry to put you all through this, but this is saving my sanity..

jno

manuscripts means things written by hand (eg a writer's first draft of his novel may be a manuscript if he's written it with a pen; probably not on a PC though). So before printing was discovered, all books were manuscripts. Parchment and papyrus are what they might be written on, the equivalent of paper.

Rumford

Do you mean palimphests?

Rumford

Sorry, that should be palimpsest.