In the early 1900s, a British archaeologist named Sir Arthur Evans made an incredible discovery on the island of Crete. He unearthed nearly 3,000 tablets covered in strange symbols, which he believed were the writings of Europe’s oldest civilization. These symbols puzzled scholars for half a century. Evans found these tablets in the palace of Knossos, surrounded by colorful frescoes and complex hallways. He named this ancient civilization the Minoans, after the legendary King Minos. The script on the tablets, which he called Linear B, was thought to be the Minoan language. This sparked various theories about its origins, with some suggesting it might be linked to the lost language of the Etruscans or an early form of Basque.
Evans was very protective of the tablets, and during his lifetime, only 200 inscriptions were published. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t decipher the script. However, he did make two important observations: the tablets were used for administrative purposes, and the script was a syllabary, meaning each symbol represented both a consonant and a vowel, along with some characters that stood for entire words.
After Evans, a scholar from Brooklyn, New York, named Alice Kober took on the challenge of deciphering Linear B. Kober was a professor of Classics at Brooklyn College, a rare position for women at the time. To help her research, she taught herself many languages, knowing this would be crucial in cracking Linear B. Over two decades, she meticulously analyzed the symbols, noting how often each appeared and their sequences. Due to the scarcity of writing materials during World War II, she stored her findings on scrap paper in cigarette cartons. Through her analysis, she discovered that Linear B used word endings to create grammatical structure. She began constructing a chart to show the relationships between the signs, getting closer than anyone before to solving the mystery. Sadly, she passed away in 1950 at the age of 43, likely from cancer.
While Kober was working on the tablets, an architect named Michael Ventris was also intrigued by Linear B. His fascination began in school after hearing Evans speak, and he continued his work even during World War II. After the war, Ventris expanded on Kober’s research using a newly published collection of Linear B inscriptions from another site called Pylos, located on mainland Greece. His major breakthrough came when he compared the tablets from Pylos with those from Knossos and noticed that certain words appeared only at one site. He hypothesized that these words might be place names specific to each location. Knowing that place names often remain unchanged over time, he compared Linear B to an ancient syllabary from Cyprus. Although the Cypriot script was used much later, some symbols were similar, leading him to test if the sounds were alike.
When Ventris applied some sounds from the Cypriot syllabary to Linear B, he identified the word “Knossos,” the city where Evans had found the tablets. This discovery set off a chain reaction, allowing Ventris to decode Linear B. He revealed that the language of Linear B was not Minoan, but Greek. Tragically, Ventris died in a car accident four years later at the age of 34, but his work changed our understanding of history. Evans had believed that the Minoans had conquered the mainland Greeks, explaining why Linear B was found on the mainland. However, Ventris’ discovery showed the opposite: mainland Greeks had invaded Crete and adapted the Minoan script for their language.
Despite this breakthrough, the story isn’t over. The true language of the Minoans, written in another script called Linear A, remains undeciphered, continuing to be a mystery—for now.
Research the life and contributions of Sir Arthur Evans, focusing on his discovery of the Minoan civilization and Linear B tablets. Create a presentation that highlights his findings and their impact on archaeology and history. Share your presentation with the class to discuss how his work laid the foundation for future discoveries.
Imagine you are a linguist in the early 20th century. Create your own set of symbols and assign them sounds or meanings. Exchange your symbols with a classmate and attempt to decipher each other’s scripts. Reflect on the challenges faced by Evans, Kober, and Ventris in deciphering Linear B.
Divide into groups and research different theories about the origins of Linear B before it was deciphered. Each group will represent a different theory, such as its connection to the Etruscan language or early Basque. Hold a debate where each group presents arguments supporting their theory, followed by a class discussion on the importance of evidence in historical research.
Create a detailed timeline of the key events and figures involved in the discovery and deciphering of Linear B. Include significant milestones from Evans’ initial discovery to Ventris’ breakthrough. Use visuals and brief descriptions to illustrate the progression of this historical mystery.
Research the ongoing mystery of Linear A and the current theories about its origins and meaning. Write a short essay or create a video discussing why Linear A remains undeciphered and the potential impact of its decipherment on our understanding of ancient civilizations. Share your findings with the class.
In the early 1900s on the island of Crete, British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans uncovered nearly 3,000 tablets inscribed with unusual symbols. He believed these symbols represented the language of Europe’s oldest civilization. Their meaning would remain elusive to scholars for 50 years. Evans discovered these tablets among the colorful frescoes and intricate hallways of the palace of Knossos. He named the civilization Minoan, after the mythical Cretan ruler, King Minos. He thought the script, later called Linear B, represented the Minoan language, leading scholars worldwide to propose various theories about its origins. Some speculated it might be the lost language of the Etruscans or an early form of Basque. The mystery deepened as Evans closely guarded the tablets—only 200 of the inscriptions were published during his lifetime—and he was unable to decipher the script. However, he made two significant observations: the tablets were administrative records, and the script was a syllabary, where each symbol represented both a consonant and a vowel, along with characters that represented whole words.
Evans worked on Linear B for three decades before a scholar from Brooklyn, New York, named Alice Kober began her quest to solve the mystery. Kober was a professor of Classics at Brooklyn College at a time when few women held such positions. To aid her research, she taught herself many languages, knowing she would need this knowledge to decipher Linear B. Over the next two decades, she analyzed the symbols, recording how often each symbol appeared and how frequently they appeared next to one another. She stored her findings on scrap paper in cigarette cartons due to the scarcity of writing supplies during World War II. By analyzing these frequencies, she discovered that Linear B relied on word endings to provide grammatical structure. From this, she began to build a chart of the relationships between the signs, coming closer than anyone before to deciphering Linear B. Tragically, she passed away, likely from cancer, in 1950 at the age of 43.
While Kober was studying the Knossos tablets, an architect named Michael Ventris was also working to crack Linear B. He had become fascinated with the script as a schoolboy after hearing Evans speak and even worked on deciphering it while serving in World War II. After the war, Ventris expanded on Kober’s grid using a newly published collection of Linear B inscriptions excavated from another archaeological site called Pylos, located on mainland Greece. His breakthrough came when he compared the tablets from Pylos with those from Knossos and noticed that certain words appeared on tablets from one site but not the other. He theorized that these words might represent place names specific to each location. Knowing that place names tend to remain constant over centuries, he decided to compare Linear B to an ancient syllabary from the island of Cyprus. Although the Cypriot script was used hundreds of years after Linear B, some symbols were similar, leading him to wonder if the sounds would also be alike. When Ventris applied some of the sounds from the Cypriot syllabary to the Linear B inscriptions, he identified the word “Knossos,” the name of the city where Evans had discovered the tablets. This set off a chain reaction, allowing Ventris to unravel Linear B, with each word clarifying that the language of Linear B was not Minoan, but Greek. Ventris tragically died in a car accident four years later at the age of 34, but his discovery reshaped a chapter of history. Evans had claimed that the Minoans conquered the mainland Greeks, which explained why examples of Linear B were found on the mainland. However, the revelation that Linear B represented Greek, not Minoan, indicated that the opposite had occurred: mainland Greeks invaded Crete and adopted the Minoan script for their own language. Yet, the story is not over. The actual language of the Minoans, represented by another script called Linear A, remains undeciphered, continuing to be a mystery—for now.
Archaeologist – A scientist who studies human history by excavating and analyzing artifacts, structures, and other physical remains. – The archaeologist carefully brushed away the dirt to reveal an ancient pottery shard.
Civilization – A complex society characterized by urban development, social stratification, cultural and technological advancements, and a recognized form of governance. – The Indus Valley Civilization is known for its advanced urban planning and architecture.
Tablets – Flat pieces of stone, clay, or wood used in ancient times for writing. – The discovery of cuneiform tablets provided valuable insights into the daily life of the Sumerians.
Script – A system of writing used to convey language through symbols or characters. – The Rosetta Stone was crucial in deciphering the ancient Egyptian script known as hieroglyphics.
Language – A structured system of communication used by humans, consisting of spoken, written, or signed words and symbols. – The evolution of language has played a significant role in the development of human societies.
Inscriptions – Words or symbols that are carved, engraved, or written on a surface, often for commemorative or informative purposes. – The inscriptions on the tomb walls provided historians with details about the pharaoh’s reign.
Research – The systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Extensive research into ancient manuscripts has shed light on the trade routes of the Silk Road.
Symbols – Marks or characters used as conventional representations of objects, functions, or processes. – The symbols found on the cave walls are believed to be one of the earliest forms of human communication.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, often recorded in written documents and artifacts. – Understanding history helps us learn from past mistakes and shape a better future.
Mystery – Something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain, often involving the unknown aspects of the past. – The disappearance of the Ancestral Puebloans from their cliff dwellings remains a mystery to archaeologists.
