From K. Kris Hirst,
Your Guide to Archaeology.
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Definition: Hieroglyphic symbols are a form of writing which uses little pictures to represent actions or things. The most well known of these is that used by the ancient Egyptian culture, but the Maya and other civilizations used such symbols and you can make an argument that most early stages of languages began in some form of hieroglyphs.

This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.

Also Known As: Hieroglyphs (but usually more correct as "hieroglyphic symbols")

Common Misspellings: Heiroglyphic, heiroglyphs