Breakthrough in world's oldest undeciphered writing [View all]

[L. Coyote]

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-19964786

Breakthrough in world's oldest undeciphered writing
Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent
25 October 2012

The world's oldest undeciphered writing system, which has so far defied attempts to uncover its 5,000-year-old secrets, could be about to be decoded by Oxford University academics.

This international research project is already casting light on a lost bronze age middle eastern society where enslaved workers lived on rations close to the starvation level.

"I think we are finally on the point of making a breakthrough," says Jacob Dahl, fellow of Wolfson College, Oxford and director of the Ancient World Research Cluster.

Dr Dahl's secret weapon is being able to see this writing more clearly than ever before. .............