The Origins of Writing in Bronze Age Crete and the Conundrum of Documents in Perishable Materials
Writing first appears on the island of Crete towards the end of the third millennium BC, in the so called Prepalatial Period. These earliest inscriptions are carved on bone seals founds in tombs, posing the question on whether writing was invented on Crete to write on seals or these inscribed seals are in fact side artefacts of a written Minoan culture largely lost.
During the subsequent Protopalatial period, two scripts were used in Minoan administration, Cretan Hieroglyphic and Linear A. Each script system has its own range of typical administrative documents, e.g. roundels for Linear A and medallions for Cretan Hieroglyphic. Some other sealed document types, as for example direct object sealings and noduli, are common to both systems. Written seals largely remain within the domain of Cretan Hieroglyphic.
The functions of writing in antiquity are often grouped into “utilitarian” communication, mainly represented by administrative documents, and “display”, that however seeks to communicate. When writing is incorporated into display often cannot be read in normal conditions. This is also the case with Cretan Hieroglyphic seals which are too small and mixed with ornamental motifs.
The aim of the present talk is double: to discuss the evidence for the display function of inscriptions on seals and the existence of written documents in perishable materials.
