See decipherment of languages and writing systems. Decipherment is the analysis of documents written in ancient languages, where the language is unknown, or knowledge of the language has been lost. ... A writing system, also called a script, is used to visually record a language with symbols. ...

Undeciphered scripts

• Indus script
• Guanche
• Iberic language
• Linear A (Minoan script)
• Old European Script (Also known as "the Vinca alphabet"; its status as writing is disputed)
• Pictish language
• The language of the Phaistos Disc
• Rongorongo
• The language of the Voynich Manuscript (Possibly a meaningless hoax.)
• The language of the Rohonczi Codex

The term Indus script refers to short strings of symbols associated with the Harappan civilization of ancient India, dating to circa 2600–1900 BC. They are most commonly associated with flat, rectangular stone tablets called seals, but they are also found on at least a dozen other materials. ... Afro-Asiatic - Berber - Guanche Guanche was a language spoken on the Canary Islands up to the 16th century. ... The Iberian language describes a linguistic group identified with the Iberian civilization (7th century BC - 1st century BC), formed in the eastern and south-eastern regions of the Iberian peninsula. ... Linear A etched on tablets found in Akrotiri, Santorini. ... The Eteocretan True Cretan) language, also called Minoan, was the pre-Hellenic language of Crete, spoken by the Minoans until ca. ... A clay vessel unearthed in Vinča, found at depth of 8. ... The Picts inhabited Caledonia (Scotland), north of the River Forth. ... The Phaistos Disc (Phaestos Disc, Festos Disc) is a curious archeological find, most likely dating from about 1700 BC. Its purpose and meaning, and even its original geographical place of manufacture, remain unknown, making it one of the most famous mysteries of archaeology. ... Rongo rongo, the hieroglyphic script of Easter Island, has remained a mystery since its discovery. ... The Voynich manuscript is written in an unknown script. ... Rohonczi codex sample Rohonczi Codex is a set of writings in a unknown writing system. ...

Partially deciphered scripts

• Etruscan (the script is known, but the language is not)
• Incan Khipus
• Maya hieroglyphics (substantial portions can now be read)

Etruscan was a language spoken and written in the ancient region of Etruria (current Tuscany) and in what is now Lombardy (where the Etruscans were displaced by Gauls), in Italy. ... Khipu, or quipa, or quipu were recording devices used during the Inca Empire and its predecessor societies in the Andean region. ... Maya hieroglyphics is the system of writing used by the pre-Columbian Maya people to record the Maya language. ...

Deciphered scripts

• Cuneiform (Sumerian)
• Ancient Egyptian, including Hieroglyphs
• Linear B (Minoan script adapted to write Mycenean)
• Sumerian language