Modern code cracking adventures with ancient Indus Valley Script suggest it represents spoken language

In an article published in the April 24 issue of Sciences, researchers describe how they applied a computational process called “comparative entropy” to a corpus of ancient Indus Valley Script texts.  The results of the analysis show a kind of patterning they argue is only found in glottographic, or speech-based, writing systems.  The complex Indus Valley civilization flourished from 2,600 to 1,900 B.C. and left hundreds of engravings on seals and tablets — writings which have yet to be deciphered.

Members of the AAAS can read the Science article online here.  Otherwise this Asia Times Online article has a summary that describes historical attempts at identifying the script that would rival the storied Rosetta Stone.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 29th, 02009 at 10:56 am and is filed under Digital Dark Age, Rosetta, Technology.