Storytelling Through The Ages

How we humans have been defining ourselves by words for thousands of years

I am writing to you from Turkey where I am on holiday. Three years ago, I wrote a novel set here and so I have returned to do some research to complete my book — or that is the hope but I must admit I keep getting distracted by the sunshine and the sea and the food (mostly the food). I lived here, in Bodrum, in my twenties and speak the language and so it has always had a special place in my heart. More of Turkey later…

This week I visited the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which is situation within Bodrum Castle, and I wanted to show you the photograph at the top of this page, and its significance in storytelling.

Before you read on, have a scroll back up and see if you can guess what it is. I’ll give you a clue, it is around 3,500 years old…

I’ll give you another clue, it is one of the earliest ways that humans became memoirists and storytellers…