Experts trying to decipher ancient language

Ap via Excite.com ^ | Feb 28, 2009 | By BARRY HATTON

[ApplegateRanch]

When archaeologists on a dig in southern Portugal last year flipped over a heavy chunk of slate and saw writing not used for more than 2,500 years, they were elated.

The enigmatic pattern of inscribed symbols curled symmetrically around the upper part of the rough-edged, yellowish stone tablet and coiled into the middle in a decorative style typical of an extinct Iberian language called Southwest Script.

"We didn't break into applause, but almost," says Amilcar Guerra, a University of Lisbon lecturer overseeing the excavation. "It's an extraordinary thing."

[ApplegateRanch]

No photos, but Wiki has some at Tartessian_script

Also, check Tartessos

[ApplegateRanch]

Ping

[pabianice]

[AHerald]

"Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."

[AFreeBird]

Daniel?

[LostInBayport]

I read that they translated the tablet just today. It says “People of the future, beware of The One named Obama if you value your culture, freedom and wallet.”

[filbert]

Daniel?

Jack? Sam? Teal'c?

[wastedyears]

[An Old Man]

Hummm..... Base 3?

[greyfoxx39]

Reformed Egyptian?

[Netizen]

Reformed Egyptian?

LOL

[Verginius Rufus]

Southwest Script?

Maybe the Southwest Airlines in-flight magazine will have an article on this.

[bgill]

Iway uspectsay itway isway anway ancientway ormfay ofway igpay atinlay.

[ASOC]

LOL

I was going to go for

Drink more Olv....

or

Eat at Joes

[greyfoxx39]

¿¿¿ɔıxǝןsʎp sɐʍ oɥʍ ǝuoǝɯos ʎq uǝʇʇıɹʍ uǝǝq ǝʌɐɥ pןnoɔ ʇı ʎןqıssod

[SES1066]

"We didn't break into applause, but almost," says Amilcar Guerra ...

Slightly off subject but I'm struck by this gent's name. Anybody remember the 1st great Carthaginian General of the Punic Wars? Hamilcar Barca was both that and the father of the famous Hannibal Barca of 'over the Alps with Elephants' and crushing Rome [almost]. Hamilcar conquered much of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain & Portugal) before dying. Given the frequently silent 'h', one wonders if history lives in his name?

Also commend to Alternative History SF aficionados the S.M.Stirling Trilogy, "Island in the Sea of Time" where a main opposition character is a native Tartessian. This is a well done series about Nantucket Island being transposed to 1350 BC and encounters with an active Stonehenge community and Troy and Odysseus. The Tartessian antagonist is motivated because the modern history books of 1999 AD have bare mention of his nation and culture!

[Elsie]

... I’m struck by this gent’s name.

Good catch!

[Oratam]

The enigmatic pattern of inscribed symbols curled symmetrically around the upper part of the rough-edged, yellowish stone tablet and coiled into the middle in a decorative style typical of an extinct Iberian language called Southwest Script.

Perhaps now we'll get to the bottom of this Dighton Rock business.

[Right Wing Assault]

We are going to find out that this is not a language, but simply early gang symbols/graffiti.

[Right Wing Assault]

All I can say about this is, bilaketak egitean edozein alfabeto erabili ahal duzu eta datu-basean agertzen diren erdal formak ere aurkitzen ahaleginduko da bilatzailea.