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French researcher cracks 4,000-year-old Elamite script from Iran

French researcher cracks 4,000-year-old Elamite script from Iran

Summary

A French archaeologist, François Desset, has deciphered the 4,000-year-old Linear Elamite script from ancient Iran. This writing system, used by the Bronze Age Elam civilization, had puzzled experts for many years until Desset's breakthrough using new artifacts.

Key Facts

  • Linear Elamite is a 4,000-year-old local writing system from ancient Iran.
  • François Desset, a French archaeologist, worked to decode the script.
  • The script consists of 77 symbols, including diamonds, curves, and geometric shapes.
  • The breakthrough came after Desset studied ten new texts from a London collection.
  • Proper names of rulers, gods, and places helped decode the script, similar to how Egyptian hieroglyphs were deciphered.
  • The name "Shilhaha," a ruler from about 1950 BC, was key to understanding the symbols.
  • Desset has now deciphered 45 inscriptions and aims to study even older proto-Elamite tablets.
  • The discovery highlights Iran's rich ancient cultural heritage amid current political conflicts.
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