Lost Languages: the Story of Decipherment

Michael Tunnicliffe

2022 saw the bi-centenary of the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphs by Champollion. In this class we will examine not only that story but also how the riddles of major forgotten languages such as Mesopotamian cuneiform, Linear B from Crete and the Maya glyphs from Central America were cracked. There are also many languages and scripts still not deciphered and the later sessions will explore some of them.

Recommended reading (for publication in brochure):    

Andrew Robinson 2002 Lost Languages Book Club Associates

Maurice Pope 1999 The Story of Decipherment: From Egyptian Hieroglyphs to Maya Script. Thames and Hudson

Edward Dolnick 2021 The Writing of the Gods: The Race to Decode the Rosetta Stone  Scribner

Day:  Tuesdays         Time: 10.00-12.00 

START DATE: 6 weeks, from 21st April to 26th May 2026

Please note: this is a face-to-face course.

VENUE:
Quaker Meeting House
91 Station Road
Cheadle Hulme
SK8 7BG

Price for the Series: 

Price Concessions Minimum No. Maximum No.
£48 8 24

Please contact: Michael Tunnicliffe 5 St George’s Way, Northwich, CW9 8XG, phone: 01606 42116 email: mtunni@sky.com