Why Some Ancient Texts Will NEVER Be Read - Decipherment Club #2

Will some ancient messages never be read, no matter how hard we try?

Now that you understand the Decipherment Club’s rules about HOW to decipher, ask yourself WHAT to decipher. Which scripts are decipherable? Which texts must you surrender to history?

While we’re out exploring unknown languages and undeciphered scripts, this handy chart helps you decide which distant words have a chance at being read and which long-forgotten voices you’re better off ignoring. Aww, don’t cry for the past. Decipher it!

Audio, art and animation by NativLang

CC 3.0 image attributions:
Louvre Hieroglyphs, Neithsabes, modified by NativLang
Hittite Seal of Tarkummuwa, Walters Art Museum
Iron Age Italy, Dbachmann
Swahili Pysa Coin, Thebluescat
Tanzanian shilling, Fanny Schertzer
Recent Illustration of Ogham Script, Roger Griffith

Music:
Go Not Gently, Jason Shaw (audionautix.com)