Did you know the Chinese used fingerprints as a method of identification as far back as AD 700

the record for fingerprint identification in China goes back even further! Evidence suggests the Chinese were the first to use fingerprints for identification, but their use dates back to 300 BC, not AD 700.

There's a document titled "The Volume of Crime Scene Investigation—Burglary" from the Qin Dynasty (221 to 206 BC) that mentions fingerprint impressions as evidence [source: Fingerprint Sourcebook by the Office of Justice Programs]. So, while AD 700 wouldn't be too far off for early adoption of the practice, it seems the Chinese were ahead of the curve by over a thousand years!