Join this Friday afternoon event to hear Ester Salgarella present the framework, key findings and messages 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.’

Programme

• 14.00 - 14.15: 15-minute presentation of the book by the author Ester Salgarella
• 14.15 - 14.30: Q & A and discussion
• 14.30 - 15.00: Networking and refreshments 

About the book

In her book, 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). 

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.

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 as she is shedding light on a number of burning and much-debated questions in the field that she will be exploring at the book launch, 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?

Free download until 5 September
Writing in Bronze Age Crete: ‘Minoan' Linear A by Ester Salgarella. Cambridge University Press: Online: 21 August 2025 (print: 18 September 2025): https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009520041

Participation by prior registration

The book lanuch is open to all and free of charge. Please sign up in advance to join.

• Register by 22 October 2025

Contact

Lena Bering, lber@aias.au.dk (AIAS Communications).