Little Secrets from Daily Life

Messages on Broken Stones: Ostraca

Papyrus paper was very expensive and hard to make, so how did ordinary people write their daily messages or draw pictures for their kids? They used "Ostraca"! These were simply shattered shards of old clay pots or small, flat pieces of stone. They used them just like little paper cards, writing their shopping lists, quick notes to friends, or drawing funny doodles of a cat chasing a mouse just to get a good laugh. They were smartly recycling things!

If you had a small piece of stone and wanted to write a quick, funny message to a friend, what would you write on it?

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