Deciphering the Undeciphered – new book: Writing in Bronze Age Crete
Linear A is a script to write down, as a code, the ‘language’ spoken by the inhabitants of Bronze Age Crete, the so-called Minoans. In her new book, Writing in Bronze Age Crete: ‘Minoan' Linear A, AIAS-AUFF Fellow Ester Salgarella investigates the Linear A script that is still undeciphered.
The Bronze Age Aegean and Cyprus were home to a large number of scripts, including Cretan Hieroglyphic, Linear A and Linear B, Cypro-Minoan and Cypro-Syllabic.
In her new book, Writing in Bronze Age Crete: ‘Minoan' Linear A published as part of the Cambridge University Press series ‘Elements in Writing in the Ancient World’, AIAS-AUFF Fellow Ester Salgarella studies 'the Minoan' Linear A script, which was used on Crete and the Aegean islands during the Middle and Late Bronze Age (ca. 1800–1450 BCE).
Insights into the Ancient World
Linear A is not a ‘language’ but was a way to write down as a code the ‘language’ spoken by the inhabitants of Bronze Age Crete, the so-called Minoans. Linear A is still undeciphered, and the language it encodes ('Minoan') thus remains elusive.
Ester Salgarella explains:
"Despite that it is still undeciphered, scholars have been able to extract a good amount of information from Linear A inscriptions and their contexts of use. For instance, they have offered insights into the type of commodities recorded in the administrative documents written in Linear A (e.g. animals, food, vessels), a good number of toponyms (placenames) and anthroponyms (personal names), transactional vocabulary (e.g. the word for ‘total/sum’) and dedicatory texts (perhaps invocations or prayers).#
Interdisciplinary cutting-edge approach
The latest ongoing research integrates the materiality of script with linguistic analysis offering a cutting-edge approach with promising results.
In her interdisciplinary work, Ester Salgarella combines archaeology, linguistics, epigraphy, palaeography and ancient history and material scripts to reconstruct contemporary socio-cultural dynamics.
Salgarella’s book considers Linear A within an investigative framework as well as narrative, shedding light on a number of burning and debated questions in the field such as: when was Linear A first ‘created’ and when did it ‘die off’? How much do we know of the ‘Minoan’ language on extant evidence? Will decipherment ever be accomplished? Who were the writers and readers of Linear A? How much writing have we lost to time?
The book is relevant for scholars and students with an interest in archaeology, linguistics, history and prehistory and classics studies.
Book Launch Reception at AIAS: 24 October at 14:00
On Friday 24 October at 14:00 to 15:00, a book launch reception will be held at AIAS – join this Friday afternoon event to hear Ester Salgarella present her new book, it’s framework, key findings and messages.
The book launch is open to all and free of charge by prior registration here:
https://aias.au.dk/events/show/artikel/salgarella-book-launch-of-writing-in-bronze-age-crete
- Deadline to register: Wednesday, 22 October 2025
Access the book here
Writing in Bronze Age Crete: ‘Minoan' Linear A by Ester Salgarella. Published online by Cambridge University Press: 21 August 2025 (print version: 18 September 2025): https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009520041
Funding
Ester Salgarella has received funding from her AIAS-AUFF fellowship by Aarhus University Research Foundation.
Contact
Ester Salgarella, AIAS-AUFF Fellow
E-mail: esalga@aias.au.dk
Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, AIAS
Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B
DK-8000 Aarhus C
Denmark