Ancient Indian manuscript has earliest zero

[Still Waters]

Carbon dating shows an ancient Indian manuscript has the earliest recorded origin of the zero symbol.

The Bakhshali manuscript is now believed to date from the 3rd or 4th Century, making it hundreds of years older than previously thought.

It means the document, held in Oxford, has an earlier zero symbol than a temple in Gwailor, India.

The zero symbol evolved from a dot used in ancient India and can be seen throughout the Bakhshali manuscript.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-41265057

[Ozymandias]

So, in Indian mathematics the dot is the symbol for zero. The etymology of the word 'dot' is uncertain but this discovery would seem to invest the phrase 'since the year dot' - meaning since the year zero - with new significance.