Key points about Oracle Bone Script:
* Used for divination: The script was mainly used to inscribe questions and predictions on animal bones and tortoise shells, which were then heated and interpreted.
* Precursor to modern Chinese: While not directly translatable, Oracle Bone Script is considered a precursor to modern Chinese characters.
* Logographic: Characters were primarily pictographic, representing objects or ideas directly.
While the Yellow River region is often associated with the development of Chinese writing, it's important to note:
* Other early writing systems existed in China: These included the even earlier Cizhou script (c. 3000-2000 BCE) and the later Warring States script (c. 475-221 BCE).
* Origins are complex: There's ongoing debate among historians and archaeologists about the precise origins and influence of different writing systems in China.
Therefore, while Oracle Bone Script is the earliest known writing system used in the Yellow River region, it's not the sole or definitive "first" written language. The development of writing in China was a complex and multi-faceted process.