Reed stems, coal leaf, bones, woolen thread, Chinese ink

Picking on the banks of the Canal du Midi - FR Toulouse

The first calamies (stamps) found in Middle East were made of a stem of reed which were then pressed on moist clay tablets. The inclination of the reed's cut determined the shape of the scripture. The reed's beveled and slotted tip helped to retain the ink. When beleved, the calame leaved triangular traces in the clay which served for letters while the rounded tip was used to print the numbers.

Magdalenians designed brushes and painted with them 17,000 years BC. The observation of their environment led toan important development of a diversified set of tools. The first brushes were made of horsehair and vegetable stems, assembled and chewed. Badger hair, marten hair, human hair, as well as bird feathers were ligated with natural sealants at the tip of carved wooden handles.