Home > Decipherment

It is closely related to cryptanalysis — the difference being that the original document was not deliberately written to be difficult to decipher.

The term has also been used to describe the analysis of the genetic code information encoded in DNA - see the Human Genome Project article for more on this.

Some people have also used the word metaphorically to mean something like 'understanding'.

Examples of document decipherment:

• Cuneiform writing
• Harappan writing
• Egyptian hieroglyphic writing
• Indus script
• Linear A
• Linear B
• Maya writing
• Olmec writing

Famous documents that have been the subject of actual or attempted decipherment:

• the Dresden Codex
• the Phaistos Disc
• the Rosetta Stone
• the Behistun Inscription
• the Voynich Manuscript
• the Rohonczi CodexRohonczi Codex is a set of writings in a unknown writing system. History The origin of the codex is uncertain, as it was donated to the Hungarian Science Academy by Batthyany Gutsztav, a Hungarian grof (noble), together with his entire library. It was nam

Famous decipherers:

• Michael VentrisMichael Ventris ( July 12, 1922 September 6, 1956) was an English architect and classical scholar, responsible for the decipherment of Linear B. At the beginning of the 20th century, archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans began excavating Knossos, an ancient city
• Jean-François ChampollionFor the comet rendezvous spacecraft, see Champollion (spacecraft). Jean-Francois Champollion ( December 23, 1790 March 4, 1832) is remembered particularly for one achievement: the translation of the Rosetta stone, which became the basis of the study of Eg
• Georg Friedrich Grotefend
• Yuri Knorosov

1 See also

• ArchaeologyArchaeology or archeology ( American English) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains, including architecture, artefacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. The goal of archaeology is to sh
• LinguisticsBroadly conceived, linguistics is the study of human language, and a linguist is someone who engages in this study. The study of linguistics can be thought of along three major axes, the endpoints of which are described below: Synchronic and diachronic Sy
• List of undeciphered languagesSee decipherment of languages and writing systems. See also Undeciphered writing systems. Undeciphered languages Indus script Guanche Iberic language Linear A ( Minoan script) Old European Script (Also known as "the Vinca alphabet"; its status as writing
• List of famous ciphertextsSome famous ciphertexts (or cryptograms) are: The Zimmermann Telegram The Magic Words are Squeamish Ossifrage The cryptogram in The Gold Bug Beale ciphers Voynich Manuscript Dorabella Cipher Kryptos Zodiac Killer ciphers D'Agapeyeff cipher Chaocipher The