Editing Uchen script (section)

== Calligraphy and tools ==
Early Uchen script is believed to have been carved into wooden slabs. Though some evidence of these wooden carvings have been found by archaeologists and interpreted by historians, the majority of these [[Artifact (archaeology)|artefacts]] have not been found but rather, over time have been eroded and lost. The earliest surviving examples of the written script are dated to have been made 100 years after the initial creation of the [[writing system]]. These artefacts have been dated to have been created between the 8th and 9th centuries.<ref name=":0" /> Whilst the script was originally created in between the seventh and eighth century. These examples of Uchen script carvings are carved into rock faces and pillars. Sources and artefacts made of rock and marble having lasted longer as they do not erode or rot over time. Thus while there is lesser evidence of Uchen script inscribed on wooden surfaces, it is likely they existed but were not able to survive as long as the later stone inscriptions.

The creation of the Uchen inscription on stone surfaces was most likely achieved with stone tools, resembling early hammers and chisels, as these were the common tools of the time, that were used in surrounding counties including India.<ref>Tournadre, N., & Gsang-bdag-rdo-rje. (2003). Manual of standard Tibetan: Language and civilization: Introduction to standard Tibetan (spoken and written) followed by an appendix on classical literary Tibetan. Ithaca, NY: Snow Lion Publications.</ref>  As Uchen script of Tibet is influenced heavily by early Indian script writing, inferences have been made that, similar to the technique of Indian inscriptions, a scribe would have marked out letters on the stone pillar or slab, and the stone cutter would have carved out the marked letters using the chisel as a sharp end to chip the stone and the hammer to apply force to the chisel.<ref name=":5">{{cite journal |last1=Hawkins |first1=D. F. |title=Primitive rock carvings in Qatar |journal=Proceedings of the Seminar for Arabian Studies |date=1987 |volume=17 |pages=53–61 |jstor=41223041 }}</ref>

Wood and paper manuscripts have also been found containing Uchen script. The creation dates of these sources span from the middle of the eighth to the end of the tenth century.<ref name=":0" /> Historians believe the wooden carved manuscripts would have used similar tools to that of the stone carvings; in that variations of stone chisels and hammers would have been used to carve out the letters in wood.<ref name=":5" /> Paper manuscripts dated to the same period used ink applied to [[parchment]] or [[paper]] with a [[Paintbrush|brush]] or [[quill]], instead of using chisel and a stone to record Uchen script. This change in technique and tools creates a notable change in form of the script, as ink and paper recordings were faster and easier to create.  The script's form on paper manuscripts has less rigid lines and has a more of a slanted typography. This, in combination with the script writer's agency and human error, has led to variants in form that can be observed in early paper and ink Uchen documents and a more widespread uptake of Umê script over the formal Uchen.<ref name=":0" />