What was used before Books?

[josh.thomas]

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!

[auldyin]

tablets perhaps?

[josh.thomas]

:( 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]

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]

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]

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]

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.

[goldenboy]

grimoires? thats what old magic books were called.

[Narolines]

The walls of tombs? Or caves?