1. a piece of pottery or stone used in ancient times as a writing surface, especially for temporary records or voting
Usage: archaeology; historical

Examples

• The archaeologist discovered an ostracon with Greek text inscribed on it.
• Ancient Athenians used ostraca to vote for the exile of political figures.
• The museum displayed several ostraca found at the excavation site.
• Students learned how an ostracon served as an ancient form of paper.
• The limestone ostracon contained a shopping list written in hieratic script.
• Scholars translated the message written on the clay ostracon.