Recent archaeological excavations have brought to light a basalt inscription with inscriptions in an unknown language. The importance of the discovery lies both in the rarity of the material, and in the fact that it may reveal unknown aspects of ancient civilizations.
The discovery was made near Lake Bashplemi, in the city of Dmanisi, Georgia. Archaeologists hope the inscription will lead them to unlock the civilizations of the Caucasus.
Cradle of Eurasian civilization
The find, discovered in 2021, is a book-sized inscription inscribed with 60 different symbols, of which 39 have no exact equivalent in any ancient writing system. Archaeologists, based on the archaeological and geological environment, believe that the inscription may belong to the Late Bronze Age or the early Iron Age, around the first millennium BC.
Dmanisi is known for its wealth of archaeological discoveries, especially human finds, dating back to 1.8 million years ago, which makes it a crucial area for the study of the first inhabitants of Eurasia.
This time however, the discovery is not about physical anthropology, but a possible writing system that provides clues about the culture, religion and social structure of the region’s ancient inhabitants.
Lake Bashplemi is located on a volcanic plateau, surrounded by hills and fed by small tributaries of the Masavera River. Although the area has not been extensively studied archaeologically, researchers have discovered ceramic fragments, a mortar stone, pieces of obsidian on the surface, findings that indicate significant human activity.
The inscription with the 39 unique symbols
The basalt inscription contains 39 unique symbols arranged in seven horizontal lines or entries. Some of the symbols are repeated, so the total number of symbols reaches 60 characters, carved on the surface of the stone.
The arrangement and frequency of some characters suggests that they were used to represent numbers or punctuation. According to scholars, the writing system may have been used to record religious vows, construction projects or military supplies, although these are only the initial interpretations.
To create the characters, ancient craftsmen utilized advanced techniques, including a form of conical drill to create the initial outlines of the symbols and then blunt tools to smooth out the carvings.
The hard surface of the basalt and the precision of the markings testify to a high level of craftsmanship and the sophisticated carving technique.
Similarities with other writing systems
One of the most interesting aspects of the inscription is its partial similarity to various writing systems of antiquity. According to archaeologists, similarities have been observed in writing with inscriptions in the Caucasus, such as the early Georgian alphabet and pre-Christian scripts of the region.
Some symbols bear visual similarities to Near Eastern writing systems such as Phoenician, Aramaic, and the Proto-Semitic alphabet that may indicate influence or exchange with neighboring cultures.
However, the Bashplemi inscription does not reproduce any known writing system. The symbols bear only some resemblance to certain Semitic, Greek and Indian systems.
Also, some Bronze Age and Early Iron Age seals have been discovered in Georgia. This unique phenomenon has led scholars to consider the possibility of the development of an independent writing system, or some early system that evolved within the boundaries of the region.
What do the reports of Greek authors testify?
The existence of this sign system adds complexity to the cultural history of the Caucasus, a region that, although located at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, has been considered a peripheral region in the history of ancient scriptures.
Ancient texts, such as those of Apollonius of Rhodes and other Greek authors, refer to writing in the area of Colchis, the part of present-day western Georgia, which they call the golden script. To date, however, there is no solid archaeological evidence to testify to the discovery of such writing systems.
This finding raises the possibility that there were other writing systems in the Caucasus during the Bronze Age, which may have been used for ritual or administrative purposes.
The reason why more examples of this possible writing have not survived could be due to the use of biodegradable materials, such as wood or leather, which do not survive in the humid climate of the area.
The thorough analysis of the inscription has been completed, both of its material and techniques.
The basalt of the inscription matches the geological composition of the stones of the area, indicating its locality. Also, the wear marks on the basalt surface caused by the use of metal tools, testify that the locals who had discovered it, tried to clean the artefact without having appreciated its importance. This, of course, strengthens the authenticity of the find.
Because the inscription is not fake
The process of creating the inscription is complex and requires considerable technical skill, which excludes the possibility that it is a modern forgery.
For archaeologists, the authenticity of the inscription is based on its archaeological setting and its similarity to other, pre-Christian inscriptions that have been discovered in the area.
Source: www.enikos.gr
