The study of ancient forms of writing Paleography can be used to date manuscripts, since writing styles changed over the years and different manuscripts of the same book can be arranged in the likely order in which they were written Paleography can also classify the writing in inscriptions (epigraphs) and scratched on broken pieces of pottery (ostraca)
Latin palaeographia, from Greek palai- pale- + -graphia -graphy 1 : the study of ancient writings and inscriptions 2 a : an ancient manner of writing b : ancient writings