Ostracon
OSTRACON
An inscribed potsherd. Since papyrus or leather often proved expensive for ordinary writing chores such as memoranda, letters, and receipts or even at times for official communications, the ancients resorted to potsherds as a writing material. Such material was readily available, required no preparation, and could be reused if necessary. The writing was sometimes scratched on the surface but was normally inscribed with pen and ink. Such a surface, however, was not practical for writing in cuneiform. Some inscribed potsherds (ostraca) have been found in Palestine and have thrown light on the biblical period. The most famous are the Lachis letters and the Samarian ostraca.
See Also: epigraphy, hebrew.
[t. h. weber]
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Ostracon