Department of Linguistics

Decipherment project: Elamite line script (2200 BC)

The Elamic line script, or linear, probably used to reproduce the isolate language Elamic, is one of the oldest undeciphered writing systems in the world. Recently, new inscriptions found in Iran almost double the existing text corpus and make it possible to resume Hinz’s attempt to decipher it (1962). The deciphering project is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Hamedan, Iran.

Die Inschrift MAHB Y in der digitalisierten Inschriftensammlung
The inscription MAHB Y in the digitized collection of inscriptions

 

The following work has been carried out so far:

  • Drawings of inscriptions using photographs or originals
  • Counting, digitizing and cataloging the characters
  • Creation of the Unicode Elamicon font
  • Creation of the “Elamicon” web tool with dynamic syllabar and regex search functions. The web tool is public, and laypeople are also invited to search for abnormalities, matching sequences, etc. and thus participate in the project.


Team: Michael Mäder, Nicolai Rawyler, Simon Plachtzik, Stephan Balmer, Laura Higson, Lucy Wren, Mathias Zust, Fabienne Welte, Zilta Velankanny, Melanie Carafa

Michael Mäder


Talks and Publications

Mäder Publikationen / Publications (PDF, 198 KB)

“Some new Linear Elamite Inscriptions” -- Conference talk at the Bernese Ancient Oriental Forum BAF (Schweizerische Gesellschaft für orientalische Altertumswissenschaft SGOA) June 24—25, 2016.

“Linear Elamite: Digitalizing the Corpus and Establishing a Syllabary” -- Talk at the conference “Elam and its Neighbors” (Universität Mainz), 21—24 September 2016.

Mäder, M.; Balmer, S.; Plachtzik, S.; Rawyler, N. (soon): “Sequenzanalysen zur elamischen Strichschrift,” in: B. Mofidi-Nasrabadi, D. Prechel, A. Pruß (eds.), Elam and its Neighbors. Recent Research and New Perspectives. Proceedings of the international congress held at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, September 21—23.

 

Images

Foto und Abzeichnung der Inschrift PHOE A
Abzeichnung der Inschrift PHOE A
Photo and drawing of the inscription PHOE A´.


 

Ausschnitt Webtool
The Elamicon web tool allows searching electronically for identical and similar sequences as well as performing regex searches and n-gram analyses (neighbourhood analyses). The core element is the dynamic syllabar shown here: Since it is as yet unknown which characters are equivalent to others and which have an independent sound value, the researcher can continually regroup the characters and perform the same sequence search repeatedly.
Zusammenstellung der bisher bisher bekannten Lautwerte
Top left: Compilation of the previously known sound values. As a result of the bilingual inscription SUSA A most of them have been known since 1905. Bottom left: Matching sequence in PERS Q and PHOE A ́: The determinative NAP shows that it is probably a god name – perhaps that of the goddess Naride, who is depicted together with the inscription Pers Q (left and right of her head)? © der Fotografie: Walther Hinz, Altiranische Funde und Forschungen, 1969:2


 

Abzeichnen von Y
The copying of inscriptions is a multi-stage process. Only so much must be interpreted as not to cause loss of information.


 

Abzeichnen von MAHB Z
Students of the Institute of Linguistics copying the inscription Z, which is punched on a 19 cm high silver vase (Iran, approx. 2000 BC). At 156 characters, it is the longest text in Elamic line script to date.


 

Bild PHOE W
Detail of the inscription PHOE W. At present, however, there is a suspicion that this silver pot could be fake.
Die Abzeichnung des Fragments MAHB H
The copy of the fragment MAHB H