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Glite Dictionary
🪨 A writing fragment 🗳️ A voting piece
ostracon

ostracon

1 9.9
A broken piece of pottery or stone used for writing in ancient times
  • noun
  • /ˈɑstrəˌkɒn/
  • Specialized
: ostracón
  • Several ostraca were discovered at the excavation site, providing clues about daily life in the settlement.

Examples

  • The archaeologist carefully examined the ostracon for any traces of ancient writing.

  • Each ostracon in the collection was catalogued according to its material and estimated age.

  • The archaeologist discovered an ostracon during the excavation.

  • Several ostraca were found in the ancient ruins.

  • The archaeologist carefully examined the ostracon for any traces of ancient writing.

  • Each ostracon in the collection was catalogued according to its material and estimated age.

  • Several ostraca were discovered at the excavation site, providing clues about daily life in the settlement.

Synonyms

potsherd
vsostracon
  • Specialized
1 9.8

A broken piece of an old clay pot that people find when they dig for old things

is used for writing in ancient times and can also be stone fragments

Surface Forms

ostracon singular
ostraca plural

Etymology

Ostracon comes from the Greek ostrakon, which meant 'potsherd' or 'shell' and referred to a broken piece of pottery that people used as a simple writing surface. So, an ostracon is a fragment of pottery or stone that was often used for writing in ancient times.