Last week, New Scientist printed an interesting article (free for the download) by writer Andrew Robinson on a perennial favorite subject of mine: unknown ancient scripts.
Among the systems looked at by Robinson include:
- Etruscan
- Meroitic
- Olmec
- Zapotec
- Linear A (Minoans)
- Rongo Rongo (Easter Island)
- Indus Script
- Phaistos Disk
I decided, since I had some images of various ancient symbols, to put together a photo essay of undeciphered scripts. I'll keep adding to it as I investigate each one.
But—let me make this absolutely clear. I have a generous idea of what a language consists of. I think if signs facilitate communication between writer and reader, no matter what its literary merit, it's a written language. Not everybody agrees with me.
- Undeciphered Scripts: A photo essay
- Andrew Robinson 2009 Decoding antiquity: Eight scripts that still can't be read , New Scientist 2710: 27 May 09
- Ancient Writing a great resource.
Comments
How fascinating! And your photo essay is a wonderful glimpse into a very intriguing subject.
Thanks for another fine intro into a really fascination aspect.
I hold out hope that a lot of ancient writing will come to light one day when exploration of the deeper levels of the Black Sea, with its anaerobic environment preventing the decay of organic material, is undertaken in the future. The surface is barely scratched.