Has the Elamite linear writing finally been deciphered? Controversy over the latest research
An international group of scientists has again analyzed the writing used by the ancient Elamites. It was used at the end of the 3rd millennium BC, but until now no one has managed to read it.
More than 4,400 years ago, the ancient state of Elam was established in what is now southwestern Iran and the mountainous province of Lurestan. It was a rich and powerful country, but little is known about its history due to scarce sources. And also because some important documents were written in a linear script that no one has managed to decipher so far. They were first discovered during excavations in Susa (the most important city in Elam) in 1903.
Has the mysterious writing finally been understood?
An international team of scientists decided to reanalyze the signs of Elamite linear writing. Eight silver cups bearing inscriptions in the Elamite language were used in the study. For the first time ever, the researchers described and discussed, among other things, the phonology and individual rules of this ancient script. The scholars claim to have translated most of the characters and deciphered some sentences.
One, which appears in the article, refers to an Elamite ruler. The scholars…
