Of Sea And Sun: Writing (Patreon)

The evolution of writting in the Subantarctic Realm was complex. Some would argue that it dates as far back as the Formative Era, while others would argue that true writing only cropped up around 8,000 years BCE, due to extensive interactions with Aboriginal Australians and their message stick proto-writing.

With the invention of needles and sewing came Dzag!arnó, a method of transmitting information through knots on a thread. This is vaguely similar to the Andean Quipu, and likely had similar origins as a numeral system. Over time, however, differently shaped knots began to convey non-numerical information; they likely started as aesthetic accessories in clothing or ships (these ships are made by sewing pelts over bone or wood after all), before acquiring an actual meaning. Eventually, symbolic applications evolved into characters for sentences. The evolution of this writing system is enshrouded in mystery due to the choice materials rarely preserving well; the oldest preserved boats, clothing and independent knot work survive in isolated sites like Balleny Islands and Tristan da Cunha at around 13,000 years BCE, and more complex examples show later in Antarctic sites as young as 5000 BCE.

By 10,046 we see the transcription of Dzag!arnó into surfaces like rocks and bone tablets, becoming an Ogham like script with the knots drawn along a line. This written Dzag!arnó was of especial relevance for religious and calendar purposes, and can be found in temple inscriptions and other materials in T!ekeli'li and Ná!ka, sometimes even ironically drawn on ships in addition to the sewn variety. Some researchers speculate that Dzag!arnó influenced Quipu, but while some Fuegans and Tehuelches adopted the system it seems to have been an independent acquisition.

The other writing system is Var!an'ana, first attested in 8000 BCE in the Chatham Complex. This has clear origins in Aborginal Australian message stick symbols and was likely used in a similar manner, inscribed on sticks or bones and carried to deliver messages. While the transformation from interpretation by captians and traders to widespread writting was slow, it came to resemble a more typical writting system, being logographic and written from top to bottom and from right to left, the former perhaps drawing upon the natural "writing" of Ogham-like Dzag!arnó.

Both scripts ultimately co-existed across the history of the Antarctic Realm, Var!an'ana being the more pratical and versatile script while Ogham-like Dzag!arnó became the liturgical script and woven Dzag!arnó the aesthetic one.

Árasa'eun only acquired Var!an'ana comparatively late at around 6,000 years BCE, while the "Southern Raiders" eschewed all but woven Dzag!arnó.