History of signs | cliff carving to todays signs
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History of SignsToday when we think of signs, we think of advertising signs. Wither it be in the form of advertising a business, an event or maybe a sign for your home.   We may think of the ancient world when we think about the history of signs. Development of culture and communication has made the use of symbols an ideal format for this purpose. Cliff carvings have been apart of human culture since artistic expression begun. The Paleolithic Age around 18,000 BC gave us hundreds of examples in cave paintings. These signs were thought to be ritualistic in nature, but shows us how early symbols became important not only for expression but also for communication. These cliff carvings were found in a remote area of Latvia and are dated around the 13th century. The earliest form of advertising was the "crier" or "barker". He would announce his master’s products for sale in the market square or at the gates to the city. When fixed locations for trade became common, displaying symbols for trade signs became common place. Brick and stone carvings have been found in Greek, Roman and Egyptians cities dating about 3000 BC onward. Wall paintings were one of the best examples of ancient daily life and can be found in Pompeii. With the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, mosaics, engravings, glassware and even food was sealed in ash. The wall painting shows a baker with his loaves of bread for sale. After the Dark Ages an increase in trade and commerce encouraged elaborate and artistic trade signs. Carvings, bright paint and iron encouraged merchants to see who could create the most elaborate signs. In the early 1700's the first sign of regulation were put into place to protect the public form large signs that hung in narrow streets. Pub and Inn signs found in England, Europe and North America was a method of advertising, after King Richard II passed an act in 1393 that required all alehouses to post a sign. This was to identify themselves as official ale testers. In the mid-1800 the true era of advertising began with newspapers, flyers and catalogues. The use of gas lighting, then the invention of the electric bulb created a new technology in signage. This all lead to the invention of the neon tube, which could be bent and came in many colors. The improvement of plastics before and after World Was II increased its use for advertising signs. They were unique and could be massed-produced. Changeable copy signs that expanded the use of LED’s and programmable messages are used widely today.
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